The course runs from Mon 7th to Fri 11th July and the proposed cost is CHF 1075 (about £450, depending on exchange rates and subject to change because the course hasn't been announced officially yet). The cost covers full board and lodging (at the college) for the duration of the course, plus all travel during that week (not travel to and from Aiglon at the beginning and end).
I have been contracted to give a presentation on alpine butterflies and act as guide on (probably) two of the days. If the weather is good I would obviously take advantage of any transport on the other days too. We haven't yet planned what we will do on which day - this will depend on the weather too - but I would hope to be able to give an insight into evolution and speciation by showing species from both ends of the Rhône Valley. For example, we have Coenonympha gardetta at the local end but C. darwiniana at the other end (with intermediary forms between). Similarly, the local brassy ringlet is cassioides but further along the Valley it is exclusively tyndarus.
If anyone wanted to hang around a little longer, specifically for butterflies, it would be a pleasure to do some more hunting with them, perhaps for more sensitive species (if I trust you!!). I could offer two or three people (very basic) lodging in return for being driven around the Rhône Valley...
EDIT: It is all official now and you can get full information here: http://www.aiglon.ch/vacationcourses/ad ... page1.shtm
One caveat: the weather in high summer is very fickle in the moutains and good butterfly hunting could be entirely washed out if we are unlucky.
Finally, I will be heading south to the Pyrenees (the Val d'Aran) a few days after the end of the course and some people have expressed an interest in joining me for that. I normally go by bus (unless someone wants to drive there...) so I don't know yet exactly what date I would be leaving (it depends on the buses) but I expect it to be roughly 15th July, for about a week (perhaps more, not less).
Guy
