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Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps
The Mercantour and Alpi Marittime Parks
ISBN
9781852848453
Availability
Published
Published
9 Jun 2016
Edition
Second
Pages
224
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm
Weight
250g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
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This guidebook describes 18 day walks and 6 long distance routes. The treks include a 5-day traverse of the French Mercantour National Park and a 7-day traverse of the Alpi Maritime Park, and the walks range from 6 to 20km in length. The routes are suitable for novices and experienced trekkers alike.
Seasons
mid-June to late September is guaranteed for snow-free paths and open huts; July and August spell wildflowers galore; October means crystal-clear visibility and having the whole place to yourself.Centres
France: Tende, Castérino, St-Martin-Vésubie, Le Boréon Italy: Terme di Valdieri, Entracque, VernanteDifficulty
from easy strolls along mountain streams on broad tracks, through to multi-day treks across arduous passes with elementary rock passages.Must See
wildlife (magnficent ibex, chamois and marmots) and wildflowers; high-altitude lakes (Fremamorta, Lac Nègre); Argentera, Gelas and Clapier all over 3000m; prehistoric rock engravings are visitable from Castérino; old-style spa resort Terme di Valdieri with paved tracks dating back to the 19th-century royal game reserve; Col de Tende and Col de Fenestre.ISBN
9781852848453
Availability
Published
Published
9 Jun 2016
Edition
Second
Pages
224
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm
Weight
250g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
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Overview
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A guidebook to 18 graded day walks and 6 multi-day treks across the Maritime Alps. Exploring the varied scenery of the border between France and Italy, the day walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and treks are suitable for hikers with some alpine trekking experience.
The day walks range from 6 to 20km (4–12 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 3–7 hours. The multi-day treks vary in length from 22 to 67km (14-42 miles), can be completed in 2–7 days, and include a 5-day traverse of the Parc National du Mercantour and a 7-day traverse of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime.
- Sketch maps included for each walk
- Detailed information on accommodation and facilities
- Advice on preparation and planning
- Easy access from Nice
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Table of Contents
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CONTENTS
Overview map
Map key
Location of walks
Introduction
The Maritime Alps
Walking
Wildflowers
Wildlife
Exploring the Maritime Alps
Local information
Access
When to go
Accommodation
Camping
Dos and don'ts
What to take
Maps
Emergencies
Using this guide
The Walks
Walk 1 Fontanalba rock engravings circuit
Walk 2 Mont Bégo loop
Walk 3 Vallée de la Roya to Vallée de Vésubie
Walk 4 Upper Vallée de la Gordolasque
Walk 5 Lacs de Prals circuit
Walk 6 Ancient passes above Madone de Fenestre
Walk 7 Vallon du Haut Boréon circuit
Walk 8 Lacs Bessons
Walk 9 Around the Argentera
Walk 10 Lac des Adus loop
Walk 11 The Great Lakes tour
Walk 12 The Alpi Marittime trek
Walk 13 The Valasco tour
Walk 14 The Fremamorta loop
Walk 15 Rifugio Bozano
Walk 16 Rifugio Remondino and Lago di Nasta
Walk 17 Vallone di Lourousa
Walk 18 Traversing Colle di Fenestrelle
Walk 19 Rifugio Pagari loop
Walk 20 Vallon del Vei del Bouc
Walk 21 Gorge della Reina
Walk 22 Vallone degli Alberghi
Walk 23 Costa di Planard
Walk 24 The border forts
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C French–English and Italian–English glossaries
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Updates
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July 2024
Walk 7 Vallon de Haute Boreon Circuit
p98 On the descent route at Pont de Peirastrèche don't go R (the path is no longer feasible) but follow the same route you took on the outward stretch back to the Vacherie du Boréon car park.
(Thanks to David Legget)September 2021
Pera del Fener
p154 From Rifugio Soria-Ellena stick with the official path for Pera del Fener as the shorter route is no longer clear.
(Thanks to Anne Brearley)
July 2019
Update
p77 The map should show the red footpath running to the east, and then parallel to the south shore, of the lake in le Boreon, as per IGN map 3741 OT (not to the north and west as currently shown).
p79 bottom of page para starting "40 min - Pont Peirastreche", should read: "40 min - Pont Peirastreche. At junction P423 bear right off the GR 52, ignoring directions for the Vacherie du Boreon, and without crossing the river. The path narrows a bit and soon gives superb views of the Peirastreche waterfall. Further down, the GR 52 rejoins you as a lane from L. Pass private Refuge Saladin. At P380 the path ascends a little for a seemingly never-ending traverse WNW in woodland. At P379 ignore direction R to Vacherie des Erps. At a minor waterfall......." etc (as per existing text)
(Thanks to Nick Bradley)April 2019
p34 By Bus: the web site for bus info in France has been changed from www.cg06.fr to www.pacamobilite.fr
2018There's been an increase in cases of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) across Europe, Italy included. Walkers should be aware that they may pick up ticks while walking through grass and woodland up to approx 1500 metres altitude. Not all ticks carry the disease but better safe than sorry. Simple precautions and plenty of useful information is available on the website: <>https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis. Vaccination is also an option.
April 2018
p29/ p112 / p164 - The Posto Tappa at Terme di Valdieri has been renovated as Casa Savoia sleeps 24, open beginning June to end Sept, tel 327 0116543 casasavoiaterme@gmail.com
March 2018
p113 and 179
Rifugio Morelli-Buzzi Ph + 39 348 3399722 - email: pgiraudo@alice.it
August 2017
p28 Valleys and Bases in Italy
The summer shuttle bus services linking Entracque, Trinità, San Giacomo, Lago della Rovina are on-demand services – see p34 for contact numbers.
p31 + p159 + p184 + 187 San Giacomo: the Park Foresteria aka Rifugio San Giacomo tel 0171 978704 www.bmgelas.com open April to October.
The Park Visitor Centre has closed
p37 Austrian Alpine Club in the UK web site www.aacuk.org.uk
p44Maps
Excellent 1:25000 and 1:50000 maps are published by Fraternali www.fraternalieditore.com
<... Albergo Balma Meris www.locandabalmameris.com
<... line 6: the fork L past ruined huts is now Grade 3. An easier alternative (30min longer) continues straight on in ascent before descending to be joined by the Col de Cerise path.
p163 Ponte Valasco: cross the bridge and continue uphill to the 1996m junction
p165 Access: cars are allowed as far as Pian della Casa del Re (1735m)
p167 2nd last line: the fork L past old huts is now Grade 3. An easier alternative (30min longer) continues straight on in ascent before descending to be joined by the Col de Cerise path.
p173 Access: it is now possible to drive as far as Pian della Casa del Re, and shorten the walk by 1hr.
p205 line 5: the best path now crosses to the L side of the stream and climbs past Costa Lausea, before dipping briefly to recross the stream near a huge boulder. In the shady corridor it's not far up to the signed junction (well before the 1750m fork) where you branch R for the climb to Gias Vilazzo.
June 2016
p36 the web site for the UK branch of the Austrian Alpine Club should be www.aacuk.org.uk
p138 Albergo Balma Meris web site has changed to www.locandabalmameris.com
By Gillian Price
Gillian Price has trekked throughout Asia and the Himalayas, but now lives in Venice. Gillian has steadily explored the mountain ranges of Italy, and Corsica, and brought them to life for visitors in a series of outstanding guides for Cicerone. She is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) and Mountain Wilderness.
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