In Sicily we had planned to do some hiking. Waiting for Jenny I went to hike Mt Etna.
As we neared the mountain, we were told the rim has been closed for 4 days.
Avoiding the crowds I hiked along an old mule track, up to a ridge.
The views over the lava fields and to the summit were good.
John
This post is for Jenny, who found I had not posted enough photos of mountains.
31 August 2019
On the hike to Colla Mosse I decided to stop. I got a lift to Sanremo.
After a few days I went to Ventimiglia and walked a couple of kilometres back up the trail. Then I walked into Ventimiglia and to the sea.
I finished my hike, my way.
My phone had stopped working, so sadly I have no photos of my arrival.
It was a great hike, and I met many good people.
John
25 August 2019
In my early years in Geneva I saw a film, “La Trace”, which I enjoyed.
It tells the adventures of a man who travels from France to Italy, before they were countries, selling ribbons and buttons and sewing materials.
Somewhere in the plain in Italy he meets a German selling accordeons, and buys one.
The accordeon becomes a character in the film.
Today I stopped at Rifugio Morelli for a coffee. There on the table stood a beautiful, small accordeon.
Paolo Giraudo told me he is a carver and started making accordeons. He has made about 40.
The one I admired is not for sale; he made it for his daughter from old chestnut wood he recovered from furniture.
Today I had my Italian accordeon moment.
21 August 2019
After a pleasant 6 hour hike I arrived in Strepeis.
Just down the road is a closed thermal centre, Bagni de Vinadio.
On the other side of the road are a few improvised thermal pools by a stream.
Soaking in the hot water released my tight muscles.
Then a quick rince in the cold stream.
John
20 August 2019
I love hearing the marmots calling out to each in the alps. I always try to spot them.
Today was the first day I was close enough to photograph one.
Two mountain-bikers I had dinner with last night were kind enough to wait for me to show me a surprise.
Edelweiss.
I have never seen one before.
John
15 August 2019
It was a beautiful alpine hike over a couple of passes, starting at the beginning of the river Po.
I came to a field of stones pointing to the sky. At first I thought it was natural, and some were.
Hundreds were man-made.
Next was a small brown cliff-face that people had inserted grey stones into.
All a mystery to me.
The day ended with fireworks in the village where I stayed
John
Hands up anyone who has heard of a Brocken Spectre. Nor had I.
An English-speaking man asked if I had seen my Brocken Spectre? See yourself in a rainbow that circles you. The conditions are right, and rare.
I could not understand what he was saying.
So he took me to the top of the cliff, the sun low behind us, clouds rising from the valley.
There was my shadow on the cloud with a rainbow around it.
John
Ten minutes into my hike, it started raining and the clouds were dark and low. I went and did something else.
Two days later, 8 August, I was back to hike the 1,700 m ascent in clear weather.
The climb to Rifugio Tazzetti was straight forward; I had lunch.
From there it was a climb up a crest with views to Rocciamelone.
Above the crest it started to get hard. There was climbing, and I was having trouble finding the path.
After a while I stopped counting the grave stones and concentrated on climbing.
Two younger men caught up with me and we started hiking together. It became easier, being with other hikers.
Next we came to the glacier. It is wider than I had been told. My friends had crampons; I did not.
There is no marked path, but we found our way. Getting off it was tricky.
The final ascent is up an exposed crest, buffetted by strong winds.
It was an exciting hike, but there were moments I was scared.
It was worth it.
One of the young men said to me: “Respect. That was a hard hike.”
I was touched.
John
Day 27: 5 August 2019
Leaving Balme was a long climb in mostly clear weather. Over the Colle Costa Fiorita, 2,465 m, the cloud rolled in.
Sometimes, when hiking, a song goes through your mind in repeat. “Walking in the rain”, Grace Jones cover, became walking in the clouds.
The landscape became eery, fading in and out of view.
Someone had recommended staying at the Albergo Rocciamelone in Usseglio.
It has an old-world charm and home made gelato. So I had coffee and gelato as I considered my options.
Staying was tempting, but they were full.
Reading my guide book I learnt I can hike Rocciamelone, the mountain: 3,538 m.
So I headed to Refugio Vulpot for the night. Here they explained my options to get there.
J and J on the move 