Le Patron - The Worksite Boss

La Belle Chef et Manager du Budget

Cyane and Alan go Hiking on the GTA

During the summer of 2011, Alan and Cyane hiked half of the GTA - the Grande Traversata delle Alpi.  This wonderful and challenging long distance hike begins near the Mediterranean and goes north  for 660 km along the alpine chain, on the Italian side of the border with France.

We hiked for 20 days and covered about 350 km, with an average of 15- 17 km and 1,000 meters of ascent and descent every day.  Our packs weighed about 10 kilograms, including clothes, snacks, and water.  We stayed at alpine huts and refuges, which provided beds, dinner, and breakfast.

Below, Cyane and Alan, happy and a little depleted after finishing the southern half of the GTA.

Below, pictures around Mon Viso, the highest mountain in that area of the Alps.

San Martino again

We were overjoyed to visit again the wonderful San Martino refuge in the Val Maira.

 It has a stunning setting, authentic architecture, beautiful gardens,

 renowned cuisine,

 real companionship,

 and an impressive and accomplished proprietor. 

Mountain Hut Refuges on southern GTA

 Rifugio Alpetto is barely visible above.
Rifugio Sella near Mon Viso below has a magnificent view.

 Rifugio Pian del Re, above, is accessible by car and bike and has heavy usage.  Italians love to come and do the hike up to the lake "source of the Po River" and contemplate Mon Viso.  Below, Alan polishes off the house specialty of polenta with toppings of sausage in stewed tomatoes and another topping of cream of Gorgonzola.

 The private refuge below is in the village of Villanova, 12 inhabitants in the summer.  It is run by a family, grandmother at right.

Luminous Landscapes southern GTA I: Beauty, Simplicity, Clarity

Luminous Landscapes on the southern GTA II: Beauty, Simplicity, Clarity

Long Trail Days on the southern GTA

 The trail to Rifugio Barbara Lowrie goes along a road that shows exactly where you have to go.

 From Mon Viso, you can glimpse the lake where the trail descends to.
From the other side of Val Varaita, you can look back at Mon Viso, where the trail has come from and the valley descended.

 The trail along the southern flank of Mon Viso above.
Below, the trail along an old WWII military road above Valle Maira and Varaita.

The GTA crosses valleys, often with 1,000 meters of ascent and descent each day.

People Along the Trail, southern GTA

 A Romanian trail worker along the GTA.

 Italian students tend the botanical garden above Villanova.

 Polish and Dutch hikers at a high pass, over 2700 m.

 A French family hikes around Mon Viso with two young sons.

German hikers Dirk and Mattheus.

Clouds along the southern GTA

 Rain clouds above, below the rain has cleared over the mountains and clouds still linger over the eastern plain.

 Good weather clouds below.