Alpine Logistics

A relaxing walk on a beautiful sunny day in Piemonte. The air was warm and full of the smell of pine. We set off from San Giacomo initially through trees but the vegetation soon thinned out and gave way to hazy views across the plains below and into Valle d’Aosta.

After some time we came across an alpeggio (summer pasture for cows and other farm animals) where ducks, chickens, rabbits and a donkey were busy feeding on the grass and a child was washing under a fountain. Thirsty we drank and filled our water bottles.

Grassy slopes then gave way to a steep rocky section beneath Monbarone lake, just a couple of hundrend metres below the summit, which was now in view. After a col we passed Rifugio Monbarone and soon gained the top, were a number of others were already admiring the view.

Across the valley is the massive white bulk of Monte Rosa. Further north and west we could see several other of the Alp’s giants, including the unmistakable outline of Monte Bianco.

It was 1 o’clock and time for lunch. We got talking to a man about travels and troubles in Tibet and Nepal…he’d just spent the summer months there and enthusiastically recounted the highlights of his trip to us. Despite a chilly breeze the sun was strong and I could quite happily have spent the afternoon enjoying the view from our high point.

Eventually we made our way down. Almost at the car we came across a herd of bell-laiden cows being led to lower pastures. The landscape even here in the mountains, were spring sometimes seems to be eternal, has turned a deeper shade of green; it’s late summer but luckily the days are still long and hot!