P & O Tours (aka Messrs. Patten & Ollerenshaw) voyaged for their sixth trip to real mountains, an area south-west of Briançon, or north east of Gap known as the Dauphiné, Savoie or Parc des Ecrins, in late June.

Most of the mountains are over 13000ft, the most notable being the Pelvoux (lower right), which was the first "scramble" undertaken by one Edward Whymper, but we did not attempt to repeat his exploit – this year.

P & O were joined by mother and son, Gwyn and Ed Flitters, known to some of the group. As both had climbed the Matterhorn – amongst others – they felt they were in safe if sometimes swift hands.

Flying from Bristol to Geneva, they picked up a hire car to drive to Ailefroide a lovely dead end valley at the foot of the Pelvoux from which two glacier streams drained.

Two walks were undertaken here that took the party up to the Refuge Glacier Blanc (see right) and the Refuge Séle. A modest bit of via Ferrata (cables fixed to rock) helped the more elderly negotiate steep rock. Throughout the ten days the weather stayed magnificently warm and sunny, rather less humid than endured by UK.

The party then moved on to Valgaudemar, a 25 mile long flat valley further south. This was unusual amongst Alpine valleys in that tourism has not yet overtaken the traditional way of farming life and real paysans could be met, with their goats and sheep. Another lack was cable cars to lift the idle up to a hanging valley: every step had to be earned.

Two of the days were spent walking on paths not dissimilar to that enjoyed, or endured, by Somerset ramblers, in that they were little used, overgrown and in two cases disappeared. Most of the Alpine paths are well waymarked so a map can almost be dispensed with.

The valley is plentifully supplied with refuges where one can buy welcome drink, a meal and even stay overnight and tackle a peak if the party is equipped with the appropriate axes, crampons and necessary fortitude. Valgaudemar attracts some serious climbers and impressive individuals – at least judging by what they carried.

Several days the party went over 8000ft and had to cross several steep and wide snow filled gullies, the remainder of deep snow through the winter (The Galibier pass was only opened on 5th June). Fortunately these were crossed in the afternoon, when the snow was ideal for kicking steps: the morning may have been a different matter.

The final day was spent by Ed bagging a few high cols while the more elderly planned a gentle stroll up the valley. Unfortunately it did not work out like that. Due to some error in map-reading the threesome were the wrong side of the raging river, became separated, and one member, Monsieur Patten, decided the only way out was to scale a 1000ft cliff trusting to the holding power of dead branches, loose rock and grass roots. Somewhat miraculously they all met up eventually, sans lunch, and got back safely, scratched, battered, weary and fly-bitten.

The ten days passed with no serious accidents, full bellies and good companionship. What more can anyone ask?