2025-05-01 Running the Alps
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That is, running the Alps with a heart for plants! We arrived in the
Vallais today and as soon as we had emptied our luggage we decided to
go for a jogging-hike to the Cave du Sex (yeah, that’s the name! Or
Cave du Scex. 😅) and we took some pictures on the way.

Buchsblättriges Kreuzblümchen, Polygaloides chamaebuxus Gewöhnliche
Kugelblume, Globularia bisnagarica Frühlings-Fingerkraut
(Artengruppe), Ptentilla verna agg. Leberblümchen, Hepatica nobilis
The ascent was soon too steep to run but beautiful as the sun began to
set. Frühlings-Krokus, Crocus vernus We are on the southern flanks
of the mountains, so the mountains to the south are still lying in the
sun while our side is being engulfed in shadows. Gefingerter
Lerchensporn, Corydalis solida Sump-Dotterblume, Caltha palustris
Südalpen-Lungenkraut, Pulmonaria australis

From the Cave du Sex we were running along the Bisse du Tsittoret
towards Colombire. It has been restored for the tourists and it's
super nice. Pretty nice for running, since it follows the gentle slope
along the waster.

This an old waterway along the mountainside to transport water from
one alp to the next. Röhriger-Goldstern, Gagea fragifera Gewöhnliche
Pestwurz, Petasites hybridus Zypressen-Wolfsmilch, Euphorbia
cyparissias Echte Bärentraube, Arctostaphylos uva ursi (and
bumblebee!) Some sort of mushroom husks full of spores:
Birnen-Stäubling, Apioperdon pyriforme Alex and Claudia Claudia

And the next day, a hike further along Bisse Tsittoret.

Frühlings-Enzian, Gentiana verna

Berg-Hahnenfuss (Artengruppe), Ranunculus montanus agg. The bisse was
beautiful. So nice to be hiking along a murmuring water. And always
slightly downhill. The communities invested in nice wooden benches. I
like it!

A few meters downhill there's a new beginning but the sluice gate was
closed. As it turns out, the bisse got replenished quickly from new
rivulets joining from the mountain.

The bisse empties into a wild mountain river.

This is La Signèse, according to Open Street Map (OSM). I also saw it
called Boverèche. OSM claims that's the name of the road. Oh well.
There's a nice view point, there.

A mountain creek tumbling downhill over a hundred rocks.
Alpen-Gänsekresse (Artengruppe), Arabis alpina agg. (plus bumblebee 😍)
 Roter Holunder, Sambucus racemosa Pfeilkresse, Lepidium draba

Plant identification mostly done by Flora Incognita
(@FloraIncognita_DE@wisskomm.social) but for the mushroom I fell back
to Seek by iNaturalist. What I love about Flora Incognita is that I
can follow links to all sorts of reference works, including Wikipedia.
Seek, on the other, has nothing. No longer explanation, no link to
Wikipedia. Truly, a lost opportunity.

#Plants #Flowers #Valais #Pictures