VivaLaVida!

A journey to meet the planet and its inhabitants...

Alta Via del Sale

  It’s Wednesday. We arrive at the entrance to the High Salt Road, unsure if we’ll be allowed to enter. Officially, the road is restricted to vehicles less than 18 feet long, 5 feet high and weighing less than 3.5 tons..   At the ticket booth where you pay yourRead More…

Argentera Valley & Pass of Tende

  As previously mentioned, we’re delaying our descent to Tende as the weather isn’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.   We areRead More…

Technical inspection and start of summer holidays…

  This year began with VivaLaVida’s periodic technical inspection, which was once again refused. Almost every time I presented her, the experts found “something else”: this time, they asked for proof that some non-original equipment – there’s a lot on VLV – was already there when imported in 2016. AnotherRead More…

Pass of Valbelle

  Still on our way back home, we pass by chance near the “Demoiselles coiffees”, some hoodoos on south shore of the Serre-Poncon lake.   1. A short hike takes us near these always impressive concretions.       2. The site is evolving fast. Its configuration has changed aRead More…

Haute-Ubaye

  Coming down from Larche Pass (Colle della Maddalena), we go discover the Lautanier valley.   1. Fall colors are everywhere.       2. Hiking up the valley.       3. Meander.       4. A hiker on the bridge. 😉       5. Ubayette RiverRead More…

Lake Meja

  The next morning, we set off on a hike to explore Lake Meja despite the poor weather..   1. Our camp going up towards the small pass which overlooks us.       2. We see a few ibex near the pass.       3. Mountains appear andRead More…

Maira Stura

  As announced, we continued South hoping to be able to access the Maira Stura trail which was closed during our last visit in summer.   1. Chapel of San Salvatore, driving up the Val Maira.       2. Village of Macra, in the same valley.      Read More…

Fall holiday : Lake Lauson

  For the second week of Emile’s vacation, we went to discover new alpine spots.   1. Sunset et our first boondocking spot, near Sansicario.       2. Herd going up towards Sestriere.       3. Going down the valley of Cluson river.       4. OnRead More…

Waterfalls in Jura Mountains…

  In mid-October, in Emile’s absence, I went for a little trip to the Hérisson waterfalls, in the neighboring French Jura.   1. Gour Bleu waterfall, horizontal version.       2. Gour Bleu waterfall, vertical version.       3. Mushrooms…       4. Bubbling undergrowth.    Read More…

Return through Lozère, the Cévennes and the Ardèche

  It’s time to go home as Emile is flying to America in three days with his mother..   1. Small village not far from our camp.       2. Another one, a little further.       3. Pastures of the Lozère highlands.       4. IRead More…