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Fall holidays (4)

 
 
1. Wake up at 8,500 feet elevation under Fort Jafferau and the full moon.
 

 
 
2. Mineral universe in the warm light of the rising sun…
 

 
 
3. Another fort, Föens fortress, much lower in the mountain.
 

 
 
4. I love these high altitude tundra.
 

 
 
5. Another abandoned fort, just beside our bivouac.
 

 
 
6. It’s time to break camp.
 

 
 
7. Going down, we find other golden larches…
 

 
 
8. … and a much smoother trail on this side.
 

 
 
9. Föens fortress…
 

 
 
10. … of which we discover part of interior.
 

 
 
11. It’s already time to go home as it’s the end of holidays. Last boondocking under the Galibier Pass. Despite the negative temps, Emile plays with his small cars. 🙂
 

 
 
12. Last sunrays on the surrounding peaks and last image of the season for VivaLaVida.
 

 
 
Thank you for following our few 2021 peregrinations.
 
It is time for Emile and I to wish you a Happy Christmas! See you next year for new adventures!! 🙂
 
 

Fall holidays (3)

 
 
1. This high valley of the Clarée is just magnificent at this season!
 

 
 
2. Back from our hike to Long Lake, we still walk along the river.
 

 
 
3. Emile takes the opportunity to play one of his favorite hobbies:
 

 
 
4. … throw stones in the water!
 

 
 
5. I enjoy the superb views over the valley.
 

 
 
6. What a beautiful alpine river!
 

 
 
7. Last look on the way back down to Bardonecchia.
 

 
 
8. Back in Italy, we take a trail to Fort Jafferau, a former Italian fort built at the top of Mount Jafferau, at 9,150 feet elevation.
 

 
 
9. While the west slope climb is steep and requires the use of short gears for several miles, a pipe from VLV’s cooling system cracks, forcing me to stop for two hours to make a makeshift repair. But we still get to the top at the end of the day.
 

 
 
10. As the wind is still blowing strong, we descend a few miles on the other side for the night.
 

 
 
11. The end of the day offers beautiful views.
 

 
 
12. The sun has already set when I light the fire. A red fox comes and watch us from just a few feets away while I cook on the campfire.
 

 
 
13. Dusk…
 

 
 
14. … before a night lulled by the wind.
 

 
 
that’s it for today. I have one last article to be published soon, which will close this 2021 season in VivaLaVida. 🙂
 
 

Italian gateway

 
The VLV alpine trip continued to the Lombarde Pass linking France to Italy.
 
 
1. Going up to Isola 2000, VivaLaVida crosses a small reach to reach a pretty picnic place.
 

 
 
2. Having good time…
 

 
 
3. Emile loves to be in the nature…
 

 
 
4. Over the pass under a rain shower.
 

 
 
5. Small lake going down to Italy.
 

 
 
6. …
 

 
 
7. Switchback turns on the Italian side.
 

 
 
8. Arrival at the Tende Pass and its various abandoned fortress.
 

 
 
9. The view towards North is immense…
 

 
 
10. Some ruins are quite large.
 

 
 
11. We will spend the night in one of these abandonned fortress.
 

 
 
12. Inside one of those…
 

 
 
13. Sun is setting…
 

 
 
14. South side of the Tende Pass, in France.
 

 
 
15. Sunset behind the mountains…
 

 
 
16. Campfire under the stars. This will unfortunately be the only one of this vacation, the riss of wildfire being very high at the moment…
 

 
 
To be followed soon…