Last Friday, August 30, we arrived in Menton on the Mediterranean, the end of our trek through the French Alps. Since our last post a week ago, we have had mostly good weather with more late afternoon showers and, as we approached the sea, warmer temperatures and more haze. On Saturday we left the GR5 … more
Another day off after an excellent but tiring week of hiking. This week we have spent most nights in valley towns. Each day has been a climb over one or two cols and an afternoon descending as much as 1100 m. The trails are rocky, steep and sometimes exposed. It may seem odd if you … more
We are in the old touristy town of Briançon today taking a full day off. After the long, hard, sunny descent into Modane last Sunday, we set out on a (surprise!) long hard ascent on Monday morning in rain and fog. The fog and showers stayed with us until early afternoon but the weather cleared … more
Time flies! We are almost half way though our journey to the Mediterranean, staying in Modane tonight, a small town in a valley, after spending last night in a refuge at 2474 m, crossing Col de Chavière at 2796 m this morning and descending 1750 m today. We are glad to have a hotel room … more
A week ago tomorrow we caught a flight to Geneva from Amsterdam, followed by a 1-hour bus ride to Thonon-les-Bains on the south shore of Lake Geneva. From there we started the GR5 the next day. On the flight and bus we noticed a guy with a backpack, also headed to Thonon. Turns out, he … more