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Walking Softly Live!
John Osaki's Blog
Amy Osaki's Blog |
 Village of
Saorge, French Maritime Alps. Photo by John Osaki. |
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NEWS!
Walking Softly's hiking trips are now offered
under our "Mountain Hiking Holidays" label. You can access
information about our hiking trips at the Mountain Hiking
Holidays website at
www.MountainHikingHolidays.com. |
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For a more complete description of the
Maritime Alps Inn to Inn hiking
trip, please go to the
Maritime Alps Inn to Inn page at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website. |
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Hike across the Alps on this "inn-to-inn"
trek starting on the Italian side of the Alps and finishing at the
Mediterranean Sea near the lovely French town of Menton. On your way
from the mountains to the sea you'll hike through classic, high alpine
landscapes, past Bronze Age petroglyphs, and through the picturesque villages
and hamlets of the Roya Valley. Revel in the gems of the "Azure Alps,"
a largely unknown and beautiful mountain region. |
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The trail leading from the Colle di
Sabbione to Casterino. Photo by John Osaki. |
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Days 1-3: Arrive in Torino, Italy
and travel to the town of Vernante at the foot of the Italian Alps. Warm
up on a hike in the Palanfre basin at the foot of Monte Frisson which is
known as "piccolo Cervino" ("little Matterhorn"). On the second day,
begin your trek to the Mediterranean with a hike up the Vallone del
Sabbione. Cross the Colle di Sabbione into France and continue to the
mountain hamlet of Casterino. The next day, explore the high country
around Casterino with a hike through the glacially-carved Fontanalba
Basin (where you can also find Bronze Age petroglyphs) and the remote
Valle de Valmasque. |
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Lacs Jumeaux, Vallon de Fontanalba.
Photo by John Osaki. |
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Days 4-7: Hike from Casterino to the
medieval town of La Brigue and the spectacular painted chapel of Notre
Dame des Fontaines. Continue by way of the mountain hamlet of Granile to
spectacularly-sited Saorge, a "village empilé" with rows of houses
seemingly stacked one on the other. Spend a quiet evening in a remote
mountain auberge above Saorge. As you continue your trek to the sea,
you'll notice that mountain vegetation gives way to olive groves and
fragrant, herb-cloaked hillsides. Arrive at the village of Breil-sur-Roya
where you'll have a day to enjoy this old walled village, or if you
prefer, set off into the mountains for a hike in the Vallon de Carleva. |
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The village of Piene Haute straddles a
ridge above the Roya Valley. Photo by John Osaki. |
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Days 8-9: From Breil-sur-Roya, the
GR-510 (one of France's long distance hiking paths) climbs into the
mountains to the picturesque village of Piene Haute. The tiny square in
front of the village chapel makes a great place for lunch! Leave Piene
Haute and drop into the valley to reach the medieval town of Sospel. On
your last day of hiking, climb a well-graded, shady forest path to the
Col du Razet where you'll catch your first glimpse of the Mediterranean
sparkling far below. Descend through pasturelands and past charming hill
towns to reach the beach at Menton where a well-earned dip in the ocean
is yours to enjoy! |
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Journey's end on the Mediterranean Sea at
Menton, France. |
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Floral splendor of the Maritime Alps. Photos by John Osaki. |
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For a more complete description of the
Maritime Alps Inn to Inn hiking
trip, please go to the
Maritime Alps Inn to Inn page at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website. |
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