Читать книгу Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne. Summer routes for a multi-activity holiday in the French Alps онлайн

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Another tale gives an ancient account of the formation of the Chasseforêt glacier. ‘Chasse forêt’ translates as hunting forest, and this tale begins with a group of herdsmen tending their herds and flocks on the high mountain pastures and forest land. While they were engrossed in milking the cows and goats a beggar woman approached and asked for some milk. The men refused and sent her away with some strong words. She cursed the men and vowed they would regret their decision. That evening it began to snow. The snow continued to fall throughout the following days, steadily covering the pasture and forest. Eventually they were covered by such an accumulation of snow it began to turn to ice, putting the pasture out of reach of the herdsmen. The curse is said to have cut those pastures off for ever.

A typical lunch high in the mountains, Dents des Ambin in the background

A more recent tale features Flambeau, a dog who throughout the 1930s delivered post to the fort high on the summit of Mont Froid. For ten years he made his way each day from Lanslebourg to the fort with the military mail and then returned home. In pride of place in Lanslebourg high street is a memorial stone to this epic journey and faithful canine postman.