Walking With Harry In Chamonix

Walking with Harry in Chamonix, a sequel to the author’s humourous novel Walking with Harry, follows the adventures of a rambling club as they head off to the French Alps

When Monique invites Thurston Ramblers to Chamonix, the club’s zealous president, Mrs Olive Lavinia Johnston, referred to as O.L. by Harry Birch, is delighted. Harry, a constant thorn in her flesh, prefers low-level, fine-weather walks to sweating up mountains. No-one expects him to sign up for Chamonix. Yet he does, to O.L.’s dismay.

To re-invent himself in order to impress Monique, Harry hires a personal trainer to lose weight and get fit. On training walks in the Dales and Lakes he amazes O.L. but fellow members of the club speculate on how long the fragile truce between them can last.

After a journey fraught with mishaps, O.L. is exhilarated by the mountain scenery when they are met by Monique at her uncle’s hotel outside Chamonix. Harry revels in his role as the life and soul of the party, but during the walks, problems arise: O.L.’s impatience with the plodders and her reluctance to accept Monique’s leadership, Penny’s vertigo, Joyce’s horror of chair-lifts, Bert’s crumbling boots, a torrential storm and minor accidents, all combine to threaten the success of the trip.

John W. Winter has drawn on his 25 years experience leading walks in the UK and France to create the humourous novel Walking with Harry in Chamonix, which will appeal to walkers, ramblers and anyone who enjoys a good chuckle.


Of all the ramblers in the club
Harry’s the one you’ll find in the pub,
Knocking back Guinness and chatting up birds,
A sociable fella and ne’er short of words.


In latest gear, he cuts a dash -
You cannot fault him for panache -
His shiny boots and flashy shirts
Are much admired, unlike Bert’s


Alas, too fond of cakes and ale,
Harry begins to drag and trail.
If weather isn’t warm and sunny
He’ll not come out for love nor money.


And when he does, for good or ill,
He struggles up the slightest hill.
In vain does Olive turn about
To urge him pull his finger out.


And then one day - you’ll not believe me -
He says he’s up for Chamonix!
I kid you not! You may well jeer,
Harry Birch, a mountaineer?


Now what, you ask, caused this to pass?
I’ll tell you, friends, it was a lass!
A lass whose Gallic charm and glamour
Left Harry in a huge dilemma.


But not for long: he smartens up, gets fit,
Takes classes to improve his French a bit,
Impresses all, stern Olive too.
Farewell old Harry, hail Harry new!


He loses weight, cuts down on ale,
Strides briskly over hill and dale.
Climbs Pen-y-Ghent and Scafell Pike,
Come rain or snow, keeps pace with Mike.


The moral of this tale, says Syd,
If you would change as Harry did,
Is plain as bread and jam.
First find the lady, Cherchez la Femme!