SCIP.be

Applications

Components

Articles

Kleinkunst

Photos/Travel

Latest additions

Stored procedures & UDF's in the Entity Framework: part 1

Photos of the Western Desert in Egypt

Silverlight 4 design-time features for ViewModels

Photos of Ecuador and Galápagos islands

New version TscExcelExport for Delphi 2010

Advertisements

Photos/Travel : Gran Paradiso

In July 2009 I did a 6-day hike trip with 8 friends and 2 mountain guides in the national park Gran Paradiso in the Italian Alps. The park is characterized by the different high summits with glaciers and there are still a lot of marmots, chamois and rock-goats which live there. We climbed the 2 mountains, the Gran Serra (3552m) and the Grand Paradiso (4096m), the highest mountain in Italy.

View with CoolIris

Download for Google Earth

View with Google Maps

View with Bing Maps (Virtual Earth)

Gran Paradiso : Map. In July 2009 I did a 6-day hike trip with 8 friends and 2 mountain guides in the national park Gran Paradiso in the Italian Alps. The park is characterized by the different high summits with glaciers and there are still a lot of marmots, chamois and rock-goats which live there. We climbed the 2 mountains, the Gran Serra (3552m) and the Grand Paradiso (4096m), the highest mountain in Italy.

Gran Paradiso : From Valnontey to Rif. Vittorio Sella. From Cogne, where we stayed, we drove to Valnontey (1660m) where the hike started. After 1,5 hour of climbing, we have already arrived in the alpine meadows.

From Valnontey to Rif. Vittorio Sella

Gran Paradiso : Marmot. We also observe different alpine marmots (Marmota marmota).

Gran Paradiso : Marmot.

Gran Paradiso : Rifugio Vittorio Sella. We spend 2 nights in Rifugio Vittorio Sella (2584m), which was once the private hunting lodge of the Italian king.

Rifugio Vittorio Sella

Gran Paradiso : Gran Serra. On the 2nd day we leave at sunset (5.30h) for the climb of the Gran Serra.

Gran Paradiso : Chamois. We also run into a lot of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra).

Gran Paradiso : Gran Serra. As soon as we arrive on the snow of the glacier, we attach our crampons. Afterwards, as it gets a lot steeper, we also pull out our ice axes.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Serra - Stefan.

Gran Serra - Stefan

Gran Paradiso : Gran Serra. After about 5 hours of tramping and clambering, we arrive at the summit of the Gran Serra (3552m). There we have an amazing view on the glaciers and the other summits.

Gran Paradiso : Chamois. During the descent we again run into a family of chamois.

Gran Paradiso : Col Lauson. On the 3rd day we start from Rifugio Vittorio Sella over Col Lauson to Eaux Rousses. However there still is a lot of snow which asks a considerable exertion to climb the Col Lauson (3296m). This is followed by a terribly long descent to Eaux Rousses (1660m).

Gran Paradiso : To Eaux Rousses. In the alpine meadows a lot of flowers bloom among which are yellow bird's-foot (Lotus corniculatus) and blue spring gentians (Gentiana verna).

To Eaux Rousses

Gran Paradiso : To Eaux Rousses.

To Eaux Rousses

Gran Paradiso : From Pont to Rif. Vittorio Emanuele II - Jackdaw. On the 4th day there was only a short walk (4h) on our programme from the valley to Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II. Along the way we observe a lot of alpine jackdaws (Corvus monedula).

From Pont to Rif. Vittorio Emanuele II - Jackdaw

Gran Paradiso : Ibex. Finally we also run into a rock-goat (Capra ibex).

Gran Paradiso : Ibex. We are able to draw up fairly close to him and the animal even takes the time to strike a pose.

Gran Paradiso : Ibex.

Gran Paradiso : Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II. Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II is the most legendary hut in the whole area of the Gran Paradiso. It is a to-and-fro of alpinists who come back from the Gran Paradiso summit or who will start the climb the next morning.

Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II

Gran Paradiso : Ciarforon. From the hut you have a glorious view on the impressive Ciarforon (3640m).

Gran Paradiso : Ciarforon.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso. On the 5th day we leave at 4.45h in the dark for the climb of the Gran Paradiso. As soon as we reach the glacier, we pull out our crampons, climbing harness and the ice axe. In addition we are split up in 2 groups and we are attached to each other with a rope.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso. After 5 hours of climbing over the glacier, we reach the crest of the Gran Paradiso. Now we still have to get over the rocks to the summit. The temperature is probably about freezing point and the windchill factor is even lower.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso - Summit. Finally I am together with Micheline and Isabelle on the summit of the Gran Paradiso (4096m) at the Madonna statue. It required an incredibe amount of effort, but the view on the summit is unbelievebly beautiful.

Gran Paradiso - Summit

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso - Stefan and Kristof. Stefan and Kristof right after the climb of the Gran Paradiso.

Gran Paradiso - Stefan and Kristof

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso. A close-up of one of the ice walls of the glacier.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso. We descend over the glacier and finally we arrive at about 15.30h at the Chabod hut.

Gran Paradiso : Gran Paradiso seen from Chabod hut.

Gran Paradiso seen from Chabod hut

Gran Paradiso : From Chabod to Pont - Marmots. The last day we descend from the Chabod hut to the valley. Along the way we observe a small family of marmots.

From Chabod to Pont - Marmots

Gran Paradiso : Alpenroses. Blooming alpine roses (Rhododendron ferrugineum).

Stefan Cruysberghs