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„2021 Finland“ weiterlesenThe Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA) in Italy from Forno to Alagna Valsesia
For the third time, I went to the Alps in Italy for the Grande Traversata delle Alpi in 2021. This time, The Great Destroyer was present and walked the route for the first time. This meant that we started the whole route all over again together. That’s not bad, it gave me a chance to see it again a little later in the year. And it was indeed completely different. On my first tour, it was still partly over snow on the high passes and in fog. Here, the weather was perfect, sunny and warm. The vegetation was also much wider than just two months before. In parts, I could no longer recognise the route. Anyway, it was clear that summer at 2500 m is very very short. Now as I write these lines it is mid-October and winter has been back there for a few weeks. When we were there it was August. In any case, a very worthwhile second tour for me, this time all together in just one video.
Pont Saint Martin in the Italian Aosta Valley
Pont Saint Martin in the Aosta Valley was the end of my second trip on the GTA. Here, on the same day, I made a forced march from Refugio Coda early in the morning with a 2000m altitude loss descent into the Aosta Valley. After still being in the cold at the top, it was almost 30 degrees summery warm in the Italian town. I had to get myself two ice creams straight away and was able to take a brief look at the thousand-year-old city in the evening. There was already a settlement there in Roman times and the bridge was 2000 years old!
Hiking the GTA in the Italian Alps – Part 10 – Refugio Coda – Pont Saint Martin
This was the last stage of the second tour on the Grande Traversata delle Alpi. The start was in the early morning from Refugio Coda, where I had recovered during the night. At altitude it was really cold and I had somehow hypothermia. Anyway, I was fit again early. This time, unfortunately, everything was first in the fog. The route was not difficult, but dangerous because of the fog and the exposed places on the ridge. The route went in the beginning constantly on the ridge up and down. On one mountain you had a spectacular view of the Aosta Valley and some other valleys. From there, secured with ropes, it went down again quite steep and dangerous. This time it should go down about 2000 meters in altitude to the Aosta Valley. The lowest point of the entire GTA. I had no desire to stay overnight on the Agritourismo, but wanted to descend directly to Pont Sant Martin. At about 1900 m was an alp on which there was cheese to buy. Since it should now only go downhill, I packed 5 kilos Toma for 50 euros in the backpack. Later I should still consume two months of it. The further down it went, the warmer it became. The route took no end and you see again what you can run so everything. 2000 meters in altitude are also a word. The landscape was unique in the Aosta Valley. Above was cattle farming and further down agriculture and old paved mule tracks through forests. At 2500m it was still quite cold and down in the village it was finally 30 degrees again. I was glad to have a decent bed again in my meager room. Before was almost only Refugio as accomodation.