Category Archives: Adventure Travel

A Picnic Lunch in Paradise

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Author’s note: This post is a continuation on my travel series hiking the Tour de la Vanoise. Somehow or another I had started this post and forgot to finish it! How dare it! This post should have occurred the afternoon before we arrived at our last refuge, Refuge Peclet-Polset, and should have been placed after my post titled “Into the Mystic”. 

Have you ever been in a place that felt like it was out of a fairytale? A place that brought back memories of being a child lost inside some fictitious fantasy land? Well that is how I felt when I climbed over the low-lying hill and descended upon our picnic place for the afternoon.

As I walked over this hill….

This is what I saw….

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Our last night in the Alps at Refuge Peclet-Polset

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We reached our last refuge for the trip, the Refuge Peclet-Polset around mid-afternoon. It was another stellar day awash in brilliant sunlight and perfect temperatures. We had heard from our guide Mark that this refuge was relatively new and “modern” as the old one had burned down. By the looks of it, modern meant ugly. It was poorly designed and felt like a shoe box inside with paper-thin walls, no ambiance or quaintness like the other, older refuges and many people.  As we entered the refuge to get our bed assignments I thought to myself “Here we go again. Another night of no sleep”.

So what did we do? Celebrate and have a good time!

Our group having an apres-hike beer at our refuge.

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A steep descent to our final Alpine refuge

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After reaching the highest point of our trek at Col de Chaviere and a stunning view of Mount Blanc nestled in the clouds, it was time to head down. Unfortunately it was a long, steep descent through a path of rocky glacier moraine. But at least there were plenty of beautiful views to keep me and my camera busy.

Amazingly enough, at the very top of the Col I found these beautiful wildflowers and could hardly believe that they grew in such a place. The top of the Col was surrounded in rock and normally quite windy. Yet life not only survived, it thrived.


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A pair of worn out shoes and a sensational view of Mount Blanc

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When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body.  I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

After a strenuous morning of hiking, we finally made it to the highest point of our week-long trek, the Col de Chaviere at 9,173 feet/2, 796 m. It was indeed a long hike up to the top but once we arrived, it was like no place on earth. A place that was so utterly fantastic, that it took my breath away and reminded me why I love to be up in the mountains on top of the world…

The zigzag trail heading up the mountain to the top.

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Into the mystic

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“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away”. – Anonymous

We rose feeling well rested and well loved after our wonderful night’s stay in such a heavenly place. My stomach ached from eater and drinker’s remorse but I knew it was deserved after such an enormous, gourmet french meal.  In a few hours after hiking, I’d be fine and hungry once again, as the calories I consumed magically burned off.

We set off into the fog, our first day that wasn’t perfect.  Despite the lack of a decent view, the fog was a welcome surprise as it kept us cool as we climbed back up into the Alps.

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A night of heavenly food in the splendor of the Alps

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After four days of hard work hiking the highs and lows of the sensational French Alps, we finally found salvation: Refuge de l’Aiguille Doran. Known as one of the best, more luxurious refuges in Vanoise National Park we were in for a heavenly night of fine wine, chef-prepared french food and delight. I could hardly wait!

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The hike down into a heavenly place

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Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.

“In the mountains there are only two grades: You can either do it, or you can’t.”— Rusty Baille

I have always liked the saying “What goes up, must come down”.  As much as I enjoyed the long hike up to the stunning snow-capped 360 views of the Alps, I knew without a doubt that it would be a long, knee-breaking hike down.

Heading down through a rocky, steep and slippery trail.

Looking back to the top of where we were.

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Views from on top of the world in the French Alps

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Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.

After a strenuous morning of hiking, we finally made it to one of the highest points of our week-long trek. I was the first in the group to get to the top and what a sensational view we had. The reward was worth all the sweat and effort. It felt great to be on top of the world!

“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.”    — Greg Child

Fourteen-year-old Jonty, the youngest of our group, taking a break on top of the Alps.

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The ultimate hike: Day 4 in Vanoise National Park

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Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.

After a fabulous night’s sleep in our very own Chalet de grade (guards hut) I was ready to start day four of our week-long trek in Vanoise National Park. The Chalet proved charming, basic and serendipitously quiet for a peaceful night’s sleep of five.In the middle of the night, I had to use the loo and was awestruck by nature’s light show of dazzling stars shining brightly above my head. I knew tomorrow would be another perfect, cloudless day. And that it was.

Setting off in the morning on a long, six hour hike.

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An evening of genipe and giggles at the Refuge de la Dent Parrachee

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Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.

There was definitely something in the air during our hike to the Refuge de la Dent Parrachee. Between endless giggles and childish jokes, nothing seemed to keep us from laughing. Our overall giddy mood was utterly contagious and unending. Often times like these are the best memories of an entire trip.

Approaching our refuge for the night. We were in for a real treat.

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Something in the air

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Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.

The glorious day only continued to improve. Each step I took made me feel more alive than I had in ages. There is something about hiking that gives me an enormous emotional high. It is funny as I’m a runner and the euphoric feeling I get from working my body strenuously is often the only thing that makes me feel whole. Being outside, breathing in fresh, pure air and feeling the sun on my face is perhaps the closest I’ll ever come to heaven.

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Rise and shine to another glorious day in the Alps

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Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.

“Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.”  –Ruth Ann Schabacker

We rose at seven to a misty morning in the mountains. I was a new woman! I had finally slept. Yes I did it! I managed to sleep in a room of 40 fellow smelly hikers head-to-toe, all thanks to my new technique of using my long-sleeved shirt as a mummy wrap around my eyes and ears. Oh how good it felt to finally sleep! I was ready to seize the day…

Morning mist over the Alps gave a mystical effect.

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