Category Archives: River

Animals, France, Hikes, Landscape, Mountain, Nature, River, Sunrise, Sunset, Travel |

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Mont Bégo

5, 6 and 7 August 2021

This is it, the weather forecast is rather good for the next 3 days, my dad’s health is back to great, I took a day of leave, so… Off we go!

A little 3 days loop thought by my dad, starting at the Gordolasque parking, going up to the Pas de la Fou to cross over to the valley of the Valmasque, then onto the valley des Merveilles with a side trip up the Mont Bégo before heading back to the car.

Day 1: we leave the parking of the Gordolasque (1690m) around 9am, and it is about time: the parking is near full, it is crazy! We follow the main path to the Lac de la Fous (2200m) passing by the Italian wall (see picture from above). From there we reach the Refuge de Nice (2220m) and veer off the main tracks to go to the Pas de la Fous (2828m). I make a small side trip to the Cime Viglino (2910m) with an impressive view of the east side of the Mont Clapier. We go back down to the Lac Gelé (2610m) where we find a small patch of grass to sleep on. As we enjoy the peace and quiet after our evening meal, we are visited by a curious bouquetin. Sniffing here and there, he comes to about 2m of us. before taking a step back and going back to its dinner.

Day 2: we keep going down all the way to the Lac Vert and the Refuge de la Valmasque (2220m), after a small stop, we back track to follow the edges of the lac Vert, Lac Noir (2280m) and Lac du Basto (2340m) before going up to the Baisse de la Valmasque (2549m) where we will come back for the night. We have our lunch there overlooking the lakes we just walk by. After lunch, leaving our big back packs behind, we do a big side trip to the Mont Bégo (2872m), we see quite a few bouquetins with huge impressive horns. A colony of males it seems. The path is really enjoyable, even if at time a bit challenging with quite exposed bits, going around some cliffs, sometimes bellow, sometimes at the top. Finally, the summit, with a small space to spend the night if required, and an amazing view of the Cîme de la Malédie et Gélas, but also the Grand Capelet. Then, we back track to our sleeping quarters.

Day 3: this this the day where we go back. A long way down, first through the Vallée des Merveilles (2170m) from there we go back up, as the fog comes in, to the Pas de l’Arpette (2511m), by then, we cannot see a thing, so, we head down to find a spot a bit protected from the chilly wind and have lunch, then, we finish our walk to the carpark and head home.

Another beautiful hike, so good to be in nature, and climbing those summits to enjoy the views they offer…

To see the pictures, click here.

Animals, Flowers, France, Insect, Landscape, Mountain, Nature, Plants, River, Sunrise, Sunset, Travel |

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Le Ténibre

20 to the 22 of August 2021

Having a 3 days window of rather ok, not too cloudy, definitely no rain weather, my dad and I are off to do a little hike that we had on our minds.

Going to the Ténibre (3031m) on a big 3 days loop:

-Day 1: from the parking de Vens (1580m) we take the main path going to the Refuge de Vens (2370m), it is a real pleasure to see that we have a good rhythm, the differnet hikes from the previous weeks paying off and allowing us, even with our big packpack, to maintain +300m per hour. We stop at the refuge for a drink and a blueberry pie and then head off on a less travl track towards the Pas de Vens. We soon reach the first of those less frequented lakes and stop for lunch. The weather alternating between clouds and full sun, I time it well for a swim in this high altitude lake. So nice. We then keep going, up rocks and boulders to yet another lake before reaching the Pas de Vens (2796m). I do an extra little side hike, leaving my big back pack at our night camp, to reach the Cîme Borgonio (2930m) which offers amazing views of the surroundings, and of our tomorrow objective, the Mont Ténibre, shrouded in clouds that evening. I go down a different way to map down what would be our track the next morning, as from bellow it is not very evident. Joining my dad, we wait the day out and are join by a lonely walker who, just like us, had elected to pass the night in an old Italian casemate that offer shelter at the Pass.

-Day 2: I wake as the light start to shift from the pre dawn, the dark hues of the sky slowly filling with lighter shades. I ponder, and then get up, my dad still about asleep, and head again for the Cîme Borgonio (2930m), I reach it just in ti;me to see the sunrise. What a show! After enjoying the changing colors and welcoming the new day, I head back to our camp to join my dad. We pack and start our way to the Brèche Borgonio (2904m), having breakfast on the way, once we reach a spot in the sun. Amazing view on the Viso, before the Nébia hides it away. From the Brèche Borgonio, we head down to the Lacs du Ténibre (2550m), a beautiful spot to spend a night in peace. Then up an amazingly steep slope, and more boulders and rocks to the Ténibre (3031m). Amazing views all around, the Argentera, the Gélas, Cîme du Diable, Grand Capelet, Mounier… They are all visible. Only the Viso is now hidden away. Then, down the next valley to the Lac Chaffour (2650m), where I can resist another swim, we look for a welcoming spot for the night. The edges of the lakes are pretty nice, but a bit humid and a welcoming site for clouds of flying bugs. We look a tiny bit further up and end up spending the night under the stars (and the full moon) on a small grass patch.

-Day 3: from the Lac Chaffour (2650m) we aim for the Pas du Cormorant, we reach a point were both my dad and I feel like we have to stop. Everything around us is falling down. All rocks, from the tiny pebbles to the massive boulders are not anchored down and want to go down. Without helmet, with our big back packs, we feel it is safer to head back down. We have probably reach 2850m at this stage, only a tiny bit short to the pass and then the summit (later on, we would read that it used to be down on eternal snow… None of it remains). After a breakfast on a boulder in the sun, we go down to the Refuge de Rabuons for a snack, before starting the long way back to the car, along the Chemin de l’Energie, with a detour to the Lac du Fer (from 2350m to 2550m and back down to 2350m), as the track was damaged. No swim today, we are short on time, and the weather is turning. Strong wind and many clouds. A total of about 19kms that day, with about 1420m of down…

An amazing hike, I am already looking for the next one!

For the pictures (quite a few) click here.

Cliff, Landscape, Nature, River, Sydney, Waterfalls |

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Valley of Water and more

23 February 2018

Detti and I take Belle with us, and we drive to the mountains for a nice day of wander. We started with the Valley of Water, in Wentworth Falls, but the track was cut short as the rangers are working on some part of the walk. So we explored a bit around, finding some very nice little spots less travelled.

We then drove to do another short walk, to Hanging Rock. What a view! And while she didn’t go too close to the edge, Belle fought her fear of heights to still enjoy the amazing vista.

Here is the Full Gallery

Cliff, Details, Forest, Insect, Landscape, Mountain, Nature, Plants, River, Sydney |

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Newnes Glow Worms Tunnel Walk

10 March 2018

Detti and I took the opportunity of this nice weather weekend to go camping in the Blue Mountains and enjoy a nice walk, that goes through the Glow Worms Tunnel of Newnes. A very varied walk, with some views over the top of the eucalyptus trees, and some passage underground, in the man made former train tunnels, but also, if you know where to look, in some natural caves where a very small stream snakes around.

Here is the Full Gallery

Landscape, Portrait, River, Sydney |

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Artarmon Walk

27 May 2018

Detti and I decided to go for a short walk, with picnic, along the little stream that goes from Artarmon to the bay.

A nice day, a nice walk, it is always so surprising to find yourself in such a beautiful natural setting so close to the city, the highway, the heavy traffic.

Here is the Full Gallery.

Details, Forest, Insect, Landscape, Nature, Plants, River, Sydney |

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Heathcote National Park

27 August 2018

Today, Belle, Detti and I are off to do a walk in the Heathcote National Park, a park that I have never explored before, but seems to be quite promizing, with the promises of beautiful water hole, rivers and the like.

And we are very happily swept away by how accessible it is, and yet how pristine and natural it is! Some very peaceful water hole, amazing trees, GYmea Lillies…

We will be back!

Here is the Full Gallery

Animals, Cliff, Details, Forest, Landscape, Nature, River, Sydney, Travel, Waterfalls |

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Birds and Blue Mountains

1 September 2018

Penny having just come back from France with a little frog, she organized a weekend away in the Blue Mountains, and Detti Hemant and I were invited. We joined the fun, and had the surprise of an awesome welcome party at the AirBnB we were staying at: Birds. Plenty of birds, which came to us for a feed, and to the delight of our French guest, and our Indian flatmate.

Once we left the birdies to their day, we went for a short walk along side one of the many little stream that one can enjoy in the area, and came back some time later for some more bird watching.

Here is the Full Gallery.

Forest, Landscape, Nature, Plants, River, Tasmania, Travel, Waterfalls |

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Waterfalls

DSC0630119 January 2017

Today is the waterfalls day. We go from one to the other, and enjoy the sight of them. Some small, some big, some strong, some more discreet, from above or bellow, there is something captivating about water in movement.

We went to Nelson’s Falls, and the Russel Falls group.

Here is the full Gallery

Aujourd’hui nous allons voir une série de cascade. Nous allons de l’une à l’autre, émerveillés par chacune. Certaines sont petites, d’autres grandes, larges ou étroites, discrètes ou puissantes, faignantes… du dessus ou du dessous, il y a quelque chose de fascinant dans le mouvement de l’eau.

Flowers, Forest, Landscape, Nature, Plants, River, Tasmania, Travel, Waterfalls |

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Montezuma Falls

DSC0619718 January 2017

Our main destination today is Montezuma Falls, one of the tallest in Tasmania.

A short walk which follows an old train tracks, in the middle of the rainforest, leads to it. Green overdose. The forest is luxuriant, lush, vibrant. Water is sipping everywhere, feeding this green giant carpet.

The waterfall is really tall. Lost high above us, a ridge far from our reach.

We then keep driving South, slightly West, and pass near the old mining site of Iron Blow which offer interesting colors of rocks and lake. And we finish in a camping site by the cold and beautiful Burbury lake.

Here is the full Gallery

Notre destination principale aujourd’hui est l’une des plus grande cascade de Tasmanie: Montezuma Falls.

Une petite marche d’approche qui suit une ancienne voie de chemin de fer y mène, au beau milieu d’une forêt luxuriante. Une overdose de vert. La forêt est vibrante, riche, charnue. L’eau est partout, nourrissant ce tapis vert géant.

La cascade est vraiment grande, son sommet perdu loin là-haut, inaccessible.

L’après-midi, on repart, continuant vers le sud-est, et on passe près de l’ancienne exploitation minière de Iron Blow, qui offre une terre stérile aux couleurs étonnantes. Nous finirons dans une petit camping près du très beau (et très froid) lac Burbury.