Hey everyone,
First off, another new member here so a big hello to everyone on the forum! I came across the forum in searching for some Advice on the Alps and it seems here's the best place to ask some people in the know.
Basically, myself and a few guys from work are planning to go the the Alps this September to do some walking over 4 days and camping wild each night before moving on the next day.
I've already done a search on the forum and got some pointers but unfortunately I'm still a bit overwhelmed with the choices. But I just wanted to ask a direct question to all you on OM as to which area of the alps will allow us to walk a circular(ish) walk in the alps and allow us to take in as much new scenery as possible, and maybe one big peak if possible and as long as it didn't require technical skills/kit.
If you can offer any advice I'd greatly appreciate it.
Many thanks!
DC
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Hi Paddy, Thanks for your quick reply. I've had a look at that book preview and it does seem to give a good idea of alot of areas in the Alps, so will definitely have a good look at that.
Just wanted to see if theres any of the national parks in france that you'd reccomend. I've heard that the Encrins is ment to be a great place and fairly quiet too at the end of the summer, however I'm just finding it tricky to place togeather a route that allows us to cover 4 days worth of walking, without running into seriously steep terrain,
Thanks again for book!
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 That book - and this one (better IMO) too. Try a search on the FFRP site - its pretty comprehensive.
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 David, there's a big difference between the steepness of an Alpine mountainside, and the gradient of the paths on them. You'll find very few paths that go straight up or down a slope. Most of them cut across slopes, or zig-zag, so the gradients are often reasonably gentle. Sure, sometimes you'll be scrambling straight up bare rock, but not often.
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Cheers guys for advice. It's really been a help. At least now we all have a starting point after reading the books and links suggested. Thanks paddy for the info too, I think the huge clumps of contours surprised us all as were all used to UK gradients. Should be a good adventure, now off to buy some maps and get down to planning!
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I had always been curious about the route bikes can take to get back to Monterey without doubling back around the peninsula. This weekend, my wife and I decided to check it out.We arrived at the Monterey Plaza Inn and Spa early on a Friday. bike clothes
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 I'd look at Austria for a first trip - maybe the Stubaital or the Karwendel range, both near Innsbruck. The thing you need to remember about the Alps, re 'seriously steep terrain', is that there are cable cars and chair lifts..... Takes a lot of the schlepp out of ascent 
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Personal favs for me are the Valais area of Switzerland especially the saas valley and Zermatt.16 of the 20 highest are in the Valais and there's enough walking there for a lifetime.
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September is a really good time to go as you miss all the summer crowds, but the daylight hours are barely any shorter, and the weather is fairly similar. however some facilities start to close early in September as the autumn is the quietest season in many parts of the alps - although if you are camping that may not affect you. Check cable cars and public transport though.
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Hello again guys! Thanks for all the new posts of ideas. I've been reading over the books and websites suggested and we've managed to decide were going to go to the encrins park and walking a circular walk following part of the GR5 and the GR54 with a small bit of off the path walking just to make the 2 paths link togearther and allow us to get back to Bourg d'Oisans where were arranging to leave the car at one of the campsites. I can't wait to get over to the alps now!
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To whet your appetite - a few pics here from my GR54 trip last year - its great country.
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 Fab Pics Ed
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