We had originally planned to summit the Barrhorn (3600 m) at this time of year to catch that perfect mix of early winter vibes and Swiss autumn colors. But after a nasty case of food poisoning and a very relaxed wake-up call, we switched to Plan B : Mont de l’Étoile (3360 m), a couple valleys further west, just south of Sion. A 45min drive takes us to the end of the valley, through batcave-style tunnels, and as we climb higher, the colors slowly shift from green to golden yellow.

The start of the climb took us past the famous Lac Bleu… way too crowded.
We promised ourselves we’d come back in the evening on the way down when it’s quieter. Quickly, we pass above the tree line. No breaks here, the steady 30% slope hits the legs hard, and we’ll definitely feel it for the next few days.

Summit ! Mont de l'étoile 3360m. In the distance, we can see the Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla, absolutely stunning !

We make a dynamic descent, stopping at the Blue Lake along the way. On the drive back to France, we watch the Red Bull Rampage in the car.