Summary

Luciano Abriata celebrates being recognized as a top writer in Photography on Medium with a late summer hike in the Swiss Alps, capturing the natural beauty of the region through photographs of mountains, lakes, wild fruits, fungi, and flowers.

Abstract

Luciano Abriata, a biotechnologist and chemist with a passion for photography, has been acknowledged as a top writer in the field by Medium. To commemorate this achievement, he embarked on a hike through the Swiss Alps, specifically in the area around Col de Bretaye and Les Diablerets. The hike, which took place at the end of summer, offered a plethora of natural wonders, including an abundance of wild blueberries and raspberries, a variety of fungi signaling the onset of fall, and the last of the summer's flowers. Abriata's journey also led him to Lac des Chavonnes, a picturesque lake with clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling in the summer and skiing in the winter. Throughout the hike, he captured stunning images that reflect the richness of the alpine ecosystem, sharing his experiences and inviting readers to appreciate the beauty of nature through his lens.

Opinions

Abriata expresses genuine surprise and excitement about being recognized as a top writer in Photography on Medium.
He attributes his success to the interactions with his audience and the support of editors who feature his work in their publications.
The author has a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps, as evidenced by his detailed descriptions and the numerous photographs included in the article.
He values the opportunity to combine his interests in nature, science, and photography, and enjoys sharing his discoveries with others.
Abriata is enthusiastic about the changing seasons, particularly the arrival of fall, as indicated by his fascination with the emerging fungi and the ripening of wild fruits.
He recommends the hike and the restaurant by Lac des Chavonnes, suggesting that readers should call to book if they plan to visit.
Abriata encourages readers to engage with his content by providing options to tip him via PayPal and to subscribe for future stories.

The Diablerets mountains, in the Alps of Canton Vaud. Photo by author Luciano Abriata.

Celebrating my top in #photography with a late summer hike in the Swiss alps

Thanks to your interactions with my content and to great people like Dennett, Dan Pfeifer, and Jane Grows Garden Rooms (Jane Frost) who allowed me to publish through their publications, Medium just highlighted me as a top writer in the topic of Photography. What better way to celebrate than with new photos taken during a hike through the Alps at the very end of summer? Prepare to see lots of wild fruits, fungi as they begin to populate the shaded, moist areas, some of the last flowers of the summer, and of course mountains and lakes.

Medium just announced the new recognition of top writers for various topics. I was picked for Photography, which was honestly thrilling because I didn’t expect I could compete with the great work I see every day on the platform. But well, thanks to your interactions with my content and of course thanks to the editors that let me reach you through their publications, I made it there, without expecting it, without even knowing. Today was a beautiful sunny day in Switzerland, likely the last one of this summer, to hike high in the mountains. We went to one of my favorite places, easy to get to (a train drops you right at 1600 m) and with great hikes, landscapes, and nature to discover. Come with me to know the mountains around the highest regions of Canton de Vaud, between Villars and Les Diablerets ski resorts (now with 0 snow of course). See how much wild fruit we picked, and welcome the fungi which are telling us the fall is just about to start.

Specifically, this was a hike from Col de Bretaye, where we got by train, up to Les Diablerets, where we took the train back home. The hike is dominated by mountains but passes by the side of three small altitude lakes.

A commented selection of snapshots from this hike

The first of the three lakes is not especially beautiful by itself, but it keeps on one end a treasure that we always visit when we are around: a large arrangement of blueberry shrubs, kind of a small shrub forest. I wasn’t expecting much fruit, because we are quite late in the summer already… but I couldn’t be more wrong! The harvest was our best ever; in half an hour of work, 4 hands collected over a kilo of fruit!

A wild blueberry shrub, and our blueberry harvest. Photos by author Luciano Abriata.

Other sections of the hike, in more humid areas, were very abundant in wild raspberries too. We didn’t take this home because they spoil easily (instead blueberries are stronger). But we did eat lots… I think I may have eaten the equivalent of one small glass full of fruit.

Lots of raspberries too! Photos by author Luciano Abriata.

In the most shaded, humid parts, fungi were the starts, reminding us that the fall is just about to start:

I will dedicate one specific story to the ca. 10 species of fungi I spotted in this hike. Stay tuned!. Photo by author Luciano Abriata.

By far, the last lake you visit during this hike is the nicest: Lac des Chavonnes. There’s an excellent restaurant (call to book if you go!), which among other delicious dishes prepares grilled trouts right from this lake. In winter this lake is frozen and covered with snow; a snowshoe path crosses along its shore. And ski tracks are not far. In summer the water is warm enough to swim, at least on the surface and on sunny days (remember we are at around 1600 m here, and 44 degrees latitude North!). The water is so clear that you can even snorkel through the trouts.

Lac des Chavonnes. Photo by author Luciano Abriata.

This lake is very close to dense, humid, shaded jungle-like areas of the forest, but its shores are well open and exposed to sunlight. In the sunniest areas, flowers and insects dominate. These are some specimens that we found in this late-summer hike:

The last mountain flowers of the summer. Photo by author Luciano Abriata.

After a day hiking these beautiful landscapes, a train ride back home along the shores of Lac Leman as the Sun, fortunately still warm, sets far in the West.

Train ride back home along the shore of Lac Leman. Photo by author Luciano Abriata.

Liked this story and want to tip me? [Paypal] -Thanks!

I am a nature, science, technology, programming, and DIY enthusiast. Biotechnologist and chemist, in the wet lab and in computers. I write about everything that lies within my broad sphere of interests. Check out my lists for more stories. Become a Medium member to access all stories by me and other writers, and subscribe to get my new stories by email (original affiliate links of the platform).