Ibex above Rifugio Frassati near Col Saint Bernard in Italy and Bouquetins nr Drone mountain on the border of Italy & Switzerland

I don't think the Bouquetin crossing from Switzerland into Italy were carrying passports, they were enjoying the tranquility of the Drone mountain, on the border of Switzerland and Italy strolling in the early evening across the consolidated snow remaining around the Drone.  

The clouds had moved in and the view across Italy to the Mont Blanc and the Massif Mont Blanc was especially atmospheric with clouds lingering between the summits and peaks. The evening was peaceful.

Border of Drone Switzerland & Italy...View from mountain Drone across Italy to Le Mont Blanc

I captured the Bouquetin on camera from afar. I was amazed they were not distracted down wind by my trekking odeur but they seemed unfazed and were enjoying their early evening stroll. I jogged gently to Col Saint Bernard and Bourg St Pierre camp site and the following morning I took the bus back up to Col St Bernard to continue trekking on to Col Remy & Col Ceingles to reach Rifugio Frasatti.

Having crossed the Col Ceingles with distant views to the Gran Paradiso region I was delighted to see the family of Ibex just beneath Col de Malatra in the bowl crossing the rocks, perhaps they live there. The Ibex is the emblem of the Gran Paradiso region and ski area. Or perhaps they were arriving from Rifugio Bonatti side and fleeing the Tour Mont Blanc trekkers. They were too far away to take a photo but I was enjoyed watching them briefly before taking a look at the snow in Col de Malatra.

Rifugio Frasatti, Italy. Located between Col Ceingles & Col Malatra on Tour St Bernard

I bumped into a French man with crampons on looking for the Rifugio in the evening who looked a shade of pale having come over the top, he looked off colour as he recounted the ice he had encountered and stepped down at the top of Col de Malatra before he descended to Rifugio Frasatti, well that was my impression, perhaps he was just tired from walking so far that day as he described in the mountain hut that evening. His walking days were becoming more difficult he said.

Col de Malatra 22 July 2024

The mountain area around Rifugio Frasatti is tranquil and feels more remote compared to the Tour Mont Blanc side which is very well geared for tourism despited it being in a natural nature reserve in many parts. At Refuge Bonatti, where there were perhaps 100 people enjoying lunch at the time I arrived on an enormous terrace a couple of days later, is a superb viewing point and refuelling point of course, but the area around Rifugio Frasatti is beautifully remote and ideal to shelter from a mountain storm typically experienced in teh Alps like the one that arrived in the night and following day too when I decided to stay put there to take refuge from the elements, with the electric currents in the mountains seeming to be aiming at the roof of the Rifugio Frasatti from all directions I remained inside and took shelter. With or without storms it is a remote place that Ibex enjoy so no surprise they were there really. I wonder where they sheltered from the storm That day. Perhaps in St Remy...down below or perhaps they just ride out the storms!

Apparently Ibex are herbivores so only eat grass in summer, shrubs and conifer saplings in autumn and winter - poor things! Maybe the Italians should leave out some ratatouille to see if they like it. It is hard to imagine they would not polish off a plate of Italian Ratatouille.

I admit the roast aubergines at the Rifugio Bonatti are delicious, truly delicious, possibly even competition for the Ratatouille at the Rifugio Frasatti. I am not a chef, nor a Gourmande so it would be difficult to say if an Ibex would prefer a conifer sapling or a plate of ratatouille but I can confirm the Ratatouille is good at Rifugio Frasatti, especially during a lightening storm. Thank you to Italy for their vitamins and nutrients. I hope the Ibex and Bouquetins are equally as well fed.

Rifugio Frasatti Ratatouille