Sunday 2nd August 2026

We are in the high Alps, right in the heart of the country normally occupied by the apres ski set. But there is no snow, only above 2.500m, anyway.

We are here for three days to see the high Alpine plants and fauna, and we would be going back to the top of the pass once again.

We meet for breakfast at eight, talk about the day. And are ready for wheels at nine, where we will go back up The Col de l’Iseran.

If anything, Sunday was busier than Saturday, with cyclists, bikers and cars of all sorts climbing or descending one side or the other. So, cars have to find the short straight stretches to get past the cyclists or slow-moving vehicles, and all the while a sheer drop on one side for hundreds of metres with little or no barriers to stop you if a mistake were made.

Eek indeed.

We made it to the top, or 500 metres short of the summit, and from the small parking area we spent three hours botanising and chasing butterflies.

At the foot of steep slopes, a shallow meandering almost dried up stream had provided life-giving moisture to the hardy plants, and among the damp patches, and rocky slopes, clumps of alpines. Most dwarf versions of species, or relatives of, species we may see further down the valley or even back home.

Some of the group climbed further up the scree-covered slopes, in the hope of finding Bird's-eye primrose or other such wonderful dwarf flowers.

Thanks to Jon’s information the previous evening on the Peak White butterfly, and how rarely they settle and in 35 years he had never photographed one, when I saw a female ovipositioning, I gave chase. And did get a few shots off before she flew away, thankfully one was in focus.

Otherwise it was up and down, snapping flowers, orchids or other butterflies, ot just stopping to take in the grand landscapes that hung all around us.

We made our way back down, stopping off at one of the lower hairpins, where we walked along the road to see more orchids, and were rewarded with Dark red helleborines and the hybrid between the Chalk and Marsh fragrants.

It was like taking our lives in our hands as we stood on the side of the road, with cyclists, cars and vans hurtling past a few inches from our faces.

Our final call was at a lower meadow where we went searching for more orchids, Dark reds and Musk, but the high temperatures this summer had frazzled them both at this lower altitude. But there were butterflies to chase, and get shots off. Though I did turn my ankle over whilst climbing a rick fall. As you do.

It was odd to be botansing beside a full camping site, with people sitting at tables, eating and drinking, probably wondering what those strange English folks were doing up there.

Or not.

And that was that, eight hours, 800 pictures taken, and more to edit and post over the next few months.

Dinner again at half seven, which featured sausages. Sausages!