{"id":14449,"date":"2025-08-29T17:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/?p=14449"},"modified":"2025-08-14T17:32:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T16:32:27","slug":"valle-argentera-col-de-tende","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/valle-argentera-col-de-tende\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Argentera Valley &#038; Pass of Tende"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nAs previously mentioned, we&rsquo;re delaying our descent to Tende as the weather isn&rsquo;t favorable. Emile wanted to return, so we head up to the Argentera Valley. Access is now subject to a toll, with a toll booth on the bridge at the entrance to the valley.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nWe are a little disappointed to discover that major protection works have been undertaken, no doubt following recent heavy storms. Several areas of earthworks aimed at channeling lateral streams disfigure the lower part of the valley and greatly reduce its charm. Fortunately, higher up, nothing has yet been undertaken.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n1. We find a nice spot down by the river.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6204b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6204b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6204b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6204b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n2. View from our camp.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6164b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6164b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6164b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6164b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n3. End of day tones.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6166b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6166b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6166b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6166b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n4. The next morning, we take a walk upstream to discover a beautiful torrent.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6175b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"477\" height=\"650\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6175b.jpg 477w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6175b-73x100.jpg 73w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6175b-300x409.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n5. Back at our camp, Emile takes the opportunity to cool off in the river.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6184b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"886\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6184b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6184b-73x100.jpg 73w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6184b-300x409.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n6. Brrrr&#8230; it&rsquo;s cold!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6199b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"477\" height=\"650\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6199b.jpg 477w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6199b-73x100.jpg 73w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6199b-300x409.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n7. &#8230;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6188b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"477\" height=\"650\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6188b.jpg 477w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6188b-73x100.jpg 73w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6188b-300x409.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n8. But it feels good!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6202b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"477\" height=\"650\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6202b.jpg 477w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6202b-73x100.jpg 73w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6202b-300x409.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n9. The upper part of the valley remains quite wild.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6203b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6203b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6203b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6203b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nWith the weather improving in the South, we head down to Tende where we hope to discover the Alta Via del Sale (High Salt Road), an approximately 55 miles long trail that follows the ridgeline border between Italy and France. We did the Western section in 2017 but not the Eastern loop.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n10. The hairpins of the Col de Tende on the French side (South). This trail is closed to traffic for several years.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6205b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6205b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6205b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6205b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n11. Meet upon arrival at Fortress Central.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6207b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6207b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6207b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6207b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n12. First night in the barracks, alone that evening.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_9801b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_9801b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_9801b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_9801b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n13. Since it&rsquo;s Tuesday and the regulated section of the Ruta del Sale is reserved for pedestrians and bicycles on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we set off to discover the beginning by bike. Here, on the climb to Campanino Pass, with Fortress Central in the background.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6210b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6210b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6210b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6210b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n14. Emile is comfortable on his new mountain bike, even on climbs.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6208b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6208b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6208b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6208b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n15. In the end, we rided 12 miles and 13,600 feet of elevation gain. Well done to him!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6211b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6211b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6211b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6211b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n16. Second night in one of the old quarries used to build the barracks, for sheltering as a strong north wind is blowing.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6218b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6218b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6218b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6218b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n17. Barracks at sunset.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219-650x477.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-14436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219-650x477.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219-920x675.jpg 920w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219-768x563.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A1_6219.jpg 1002w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nTo be followed in a few days&#8230;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; As previously mentioned, we&rsquo;re delaying our descent to Tende as the weather isn&rsquo;t favorable. Emile wanted to return, so we head up to the Argentera Valley. Access is now subject to a toll, with a toll booth on the bridge at the entrance to the valley. &nbsp; We are<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/valle-argentera-col-de-tende\/?lang=en\" class=\"read-more\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1169],"tags":[1142,1851,1850,1853,1167,1168,1173,1852,164,1848,1844],"class_list":["post-14449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-italy","tag-alps","tag-barrack","tag-bathing","tag-bike","tag-fortress","tag-italy","tag-ligurian-road","tag-play","tag-river","tag-valle-argentera-en","tag-velo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14449"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14450,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14449\/revisions\/14450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}