Hi fellow trekkers,

Its been a while since my last post on here, and for this I apologise.

 At the beginning of September Dave Horton, Graham Rutt and I undertook the Haute walkers Alpine route, a twelve day trek starting from Chamonix in France and finishing in Zermat, Switzerland. This turned out to be a marvellous experience and one which offered breathtaking scenery from start to finish. The walk was, by any standards strenuous, but we were compensated for our pain with vistas of achingly beautiful wondrousness, impossible to describe without resorting to hyperbole. The landscape was varied and ever changing as we made our way from mountain village to mountain village, or hut to hut, the green and verdant valleys of the first part of the walk gradually replaced by boulder strewn ones, the snow capped higher mountains nearly always within view.

We passed through many unspoilt Swiss villages, often nestling high on the side of an imposing mountain or more often on the valley floor, collections of wooden dwellings perhaps centuries old and with stories to tell. Mountain animals were seen, sturdy looking Ibex standing proudly on rocks, as well as nervous marmots calling out their high pitched warnings. On two occassions we were transfixed by the rare sight of a stoat scurrying over rocks, a distant view of deer running through woods equally exciting. Dave and I intend to write up our experiences of this walk over the coming months as a kind of guide, so I will refrain from getting carried away here!

Dylan's efforts at organising a knees up (3rd October) seem to have paid off, judging by the video posted on the Tawe Trekkers facebook page of happy and somewhat intoxicated trekkers dancing with wild abandon at the Uplands Tavern, Swansea. Janet's dance moves are something to be marvelled at I feel as is the similarity in style to Michael Jackson Graham manages to accomplish. But I jest. Thanks Dylan for taking the time to organise this latest shindig.

This Sunday gone (5th October) Wayne led a party of eighteen trekkers (including several new walkers) from the nature reserve in Clydach on a nine mile circular. The first part of the walk was a gentle meander through woods, following the path of a stream. The second half took us over open moorland in the opposite direction, finally walking through fields to the finish. All who joined Wayne for this walk will have enjoyed the gentle pace and relaxed atmosphere as well as the post-walk refreshments at the local pub. Thanks Wayne for leading such a good one! Welcomes are extended to those who attended this day for the first time.

This coming Saturday (11th october) plays host to the annual Talybont challenge walk. This involves twenty often strenuous miles around the Talybont reservoir and surrounding hills. Dave Horton has kindly volunteered to lead our group on this day. Please note that the start time is 8.00a.m. in Talybont. Dave can be contacted on 07414 590 217 for further details.

As a consequence of the Saturday challenge walk there will not be a Tawe Trekkers walk this coming Sunday (12th october).

If you fancy exercising your brain cells instead of your legs then come along to the quiz on the 14th October at the Westbourne Pub in Swansea. For more information on this Robert can be contacted on 07981 963 681.

Thats all for now folks. Keep on trekking,

Paul (Harris).