Читать книгу Walking in the Valais. 120 Walks and Treks онлайн

41 страница из 88

Walks fall into three categories, graded 1–3, with the highest grade given to the more challenging routes. This grading system is purely subjective, but is offered to provide a rough idea of what to expect. There are moderate walks (Grade 1) that would appeal to most active members of the family, while the majority of routes are graded 2 or 3, largely as a result of the very nature of the landscape, which can be pretty challenging. A full definition of these grades is given at the end of this Introduction.

Typical Swiss efficiency ensures that most walks are well signed

Most of the paths adopted for these routes are well maintained, waymarked and signed at junctions with typical Swiss efficiency. Apart from a few districts where the local tourist office has put its own stamp of individuality on signposts, the majority of path signs are painted yellow and contain the names of major landmark destinations, such as a pass, lake, hut or village, with estimated times given in hours (Std – Stunden – in German-speaking districts; h – heures – in French) and minutes (min). A white plate on these yellow signs gives the name of the immediate locality, and often the altitude too. Rarely do described routes stray onto unpathed territory, but where they do, occasional cairns and/or waymarks guide the route. In such places it is essential to remain vigilant to avoid becoming lost – especially if visibility is poor. If in doubt about the onward route, return to the last point where you were certain of your whereabouts and try again. If you consult the map frequently during your walk, it should be possible to keep abreast of your position and anticipate junctions before you reach them.