One of the oldest traditions in the region of Savoie is making cheese. Three alpine cheeses are made in this region of the French Alps: Abondance, Beaufort, and Comte. These cheeses evolved over time due to the unique, isolated community of alpine herders who collectively used their dairy supplies during the summer months to make large cheeses that were easy to transport down the valley into the markets.
This post is a continuation of my series on hiking the Tour de Vanoise in France. This post follows the post “Our Last Night in the Alps at Refuge Peclet-Polset”. To read it, click here.
As I always like to say “All good things come to an end”. Today would be our last hike in Vanoise National Park in the French Alps. It had been a glorious hike with lots of spectacular views and over 800 sensational photos to prove it. Yet, I was really ready to get back to civilization and get a good night’s sleep!
Our last refuge. I should have known it was going to be trouble.
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….
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Setting off in the morning on a long, six hour hike.
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.