On a dance with the Brazilian

The campsite near Sierre was so pleasant. It was a heatwave and I was only at an altitude of 500 meters. It immediately created a summer atmosphere. The animal kingdom was particularly interesting. Generally, when camping, you always encounter new temporary roommates who somehow managed to sneak in despite all the barriers. I am really surprised at the diversity of the fauna of the Western Alps. And here in the Rhone Valley, there is even more of a variety of clever buzzing and bustling creatures than in the higher regions. As a biological novice, I usually don't know exactly who they are, but it feels like almost every one of my roommates belongs to a different species. At least in my tent habitat, there is no noticeable insect decline yet. Well, at least as long as the bugs don't start biting or stinging, or accidentally crawl into the wrong niche.

Next on the agenda was something really spirited - The Brazilian. Allegedly a legendary trail. However, before the fun could begin without using the lift, I had to endure a tedious 2100 meters of ascent all at once. Almost inevitably, a candidate for a day trip without luggage. And it turned out to be an absolute dream tour.

Overall, it was a good and relaxed climb. At half-height, there was Vercorin, a nice, rustic mountain village with a small farmers market, and before the final section, there was a perfectly integrated high moor to cross. From the pass, there was a beautiful panoramic view of the Plain Morte, a plateau glacier on the other side of the Rhone Valley next to the Wildstrubel, which I had already crossed on skis.

Now the dance with the Brazilian was finally about to begin - and what followed was an incredible trail. Going back down all those altitude meters felt like an endless Samba frenzy in perfect rhythm. Elegant and fast, without much technical effort, I smoothly maneuvered around finely cut corners. And it just didn't want to end. The party continued all the way down to the campsite. With a big grin and matching tropical temperatures, I finally rolled back in.

After this perfect day on the trail, the next day brought a nice and welcome balance - a relaxed but unspectacular ride through the increasingly flat Rhone Valley to Martigny, and then a climb back up to Champsec near Verbier.