Italy: Trail of the Giants - Hiking the Sunny Side of the Alps in Spring
On the southern side of the Alps, in the region of Valle d’Aosta, one of the best long distance trekking routes of Italy offers splendid views of the Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa : the Alta Via dei Giganti. In july it's still spring there. Nowhere else in the higher Alps you can experience such a proliferation of alpine flowers, while around the passes snow still rules. You can hike the trail from hut to hut, but a small tent in your backpack comes handy.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28446] Hiker overlooking a small lake near Rifugio Cunéy between Valle di Saint-Barthélemy and the Valpelline valley in the Pennine Alps. Photo Paul Smit.
Hiker crossing summer snow field below Col de Malatra.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28468] The Alta Via No.1 long distance trail across the Italian Pennine Alps, also known as the Giants' Trial, passes a large snowfield on the west slope of the Col de Malatra ( 2928 m). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hiker having a break among flowers.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28416] Hiker having a break in an Alpine pasture among orchids (Gymnadenia conopsea) and the yellow flowers of bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hamlet of Falegnon, Valtournenche.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28409] The dilapidated houses and barns of the deserted hamlet of Falegnon (1912 m), surrounded by spring flowers, on the western slope of the Valtournenche valley above Crétaz. For hikers on the Alta Via No. 1 long distance path It is a picturesque spot to have a break. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hamlet of Falegnon, Valtournenche.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28411] The dilapidated houses and barns of the deserted hamlet of Falegnon (1912 m), surrounded by spring flowers, on the western slope of the Valtournenche valley above Crétaz. For hikers on the Alta Via No. 1 long distance path It is a picturesque spot to have a break. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Mountain trail among alpenroses.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28413] A hiker following the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail (also known as Giants' Trail) between Crétaz and the Lago di Cignana (Valtournenche) will be pleased by gardenlike patches of alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Alpenroses on the Alta Via dei Giganti trail.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28415] A hiker on his way to the Fenêtre (pass) d'Ersa (2290 m), west of Ussin (in Valtournenche), crossing a zone with alpenroses (Rhododendron ferrugineum) between larches (Larix decidua). The path is part of the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail across the Italian Pennine Alps, also known as the Giants' Trial. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28418] Descending from the Fenêtre (pass) d'Ersa (2290 m) in the direction of the Lac de Tsan a hiker is welcomed by flowering alpine anemones (Pulsatilla alpina). In the far distance the mountains of Gran Paradiso can be seen. The path is part of the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail, also known as the Giants' Trail, which winds its way through the Italian Pennine Alps. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hiker crossing snowfield above Lac de Tzan.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28420] Crossing a small snowfield above Lac de Tzan (2440 m) in the direction of the Fenêtre de Tzan (2734 m), a mountain pass which can be seen on the horizon. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
Alpine anemones in front of hiker.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28426] A hiker looks out over the alpine tundra of early summer, with flowering alpine anemones (Pulsatilla alpina, in this case subspecies apiifolia). The path he is following is the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail across the Italian Pennine Alps, also known as the Giants' Trial. Here it snakes its way up to the Fenêtre de Tzan, a mountain pass at 2734 m, visible on the horizon. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28423] A hiker following the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail, also known as the Giants' Trail, crosses a pasture with alpine anemones (Pulsatilla alpina) near the Lac de Tzan (2440 m). Behind him, on the horizon, is the Fenêtre de Tzan, a mountain pass with an altitude of 2734 m. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28425] Hiker filling up a canteen in a brook that empties into the Lac de Tzan (2440 m). On the horizon, at the left hand edge of the picture, is the Fenêtre de Tzan, a mountain pass with an altitude of 2734 m. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hiker in early summer snowfields.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28428] Bordered by fingers of melting snow in early summer the Alta Via No.1 long distance trail (also called The Giants Trial) in the Italian Pennine Alps comes down from the Fenêtre de Tzan mountain pass (2734 m), visible at left. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Alpine flowers waving in the wind.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28457] After the melting of winter snow the Merdeux Alpine pastures west of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses see an explosion of spring flowers. Photo Paul Smit & Mick Palarczyk.
Rifugio Cunéy and Santuario di Cunéy.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28442] The Rifugio Cunéy (left) and the Santuario di Cunéy occupy a small cirque in the mountain range between the Valle di St. Barthélemy and the Valpelline valley. The mountain hut provides food and beds for hikers on the Alta Via No. 1 long distance path which winds its way through the Italian Pennine Alps. The church, also called Santuario Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, is Europe's highest shrine to the Virgin Mary. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Room in Hotel Milleluci, Aosta.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28505] Room in Hotel Milleluci in Aosta, which was originally a large farmhouse complex. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
Hamlet of Falegnon, Valtournenche.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28410] The dilapidated houses and barns of the deserted hamlet of Falegnon (1912 m), surrounded by spring flowers, on the western slope of the Valtournenche valley above Crétaz. For hikers on the Alta Via No. 1 long distance path It is a picturesque spot to have a break. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Mountain trail among alpenroses.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28412] A hiker following the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail (also known as Giants' Trail) between Crétaz and the Lago di Cignana (Valtournenche) will be pleased by gardenlike patches of alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Storage dam of the Cignana reservoir.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28414] When hikers following the Alta Via No. 1 trail reach the Lac de Cignana reservoir west of Crétaz (Valtournenche), they are led along the foot of a storage dam by the conspicuous emblem of this long distance path: a number 1 within a yellow triangle. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
Hiker having a break among flowers.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28417] Hiker having a break in an Alpine pasture among orchids (Gymnadenia conopsea) and the yellow flowers of bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hiker crossing snowfield above Lac de Tzan.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28419] Crossing a small snowfield above Lac de Tzan (2440 m) in the direction of the Fenêtre de Tzan (2734 m), a mountain pass which can be seen on the horizon. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
Hiker crossing snowfield above Lac de Tzan.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28421] Crossing a small snowfield above the Lac de Tzan (2440 m) which can be seen at the right hand edge of the picture. In the centre of the picture we are looking down into the valley of the Torrent de Petit Monde, a side valley of the Val Tournenche valley. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28422] A hiker following the Alta Via No. 1 long distance trail, also known as the Giants' Trail, crosses a pasture with alpine anemones (Pulsatilla alpina) near the Lac de Tzan (2440 m). Behind him, on the horizon, is the Fenêtre de Tzan, a mountain pass with an altitude of 2734 m. Photo Paul Smit.
Hiker jumping over a mountain brook.
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28424] A hiker jumps across a brook that empties into the Lac de Tzan (2440 m). On the horizon, at the left hand edge of the picture, is the Fenêtre de Tzan, a mountain pass with an altitude of 2734 m. Photo Paul Smit.
The Alta Via No. 1 trail (Alta Via dei Giganti).
[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28427] An upright stone marks the path leading up to the Fenêtre de Tzan, a mountain pass at 2734 m, visible on the horizon at the left hand edge of the picture. It is part of the Alta Via No.1 long distance trail (the Giants Trial in the Italian Pennine Alps), indicated by the sign in the foreground: a yellow triangle with an inscribed number 1. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
