Читать книгу Tour of the Queyras. The GR58 and GR541 in the French Alps онлайн

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On the route between the Col de Saint-Véran and the Col de Chamoussière (Stage 4)

The mountains of the Alps rise steeply from the valleys, so climbs are often longer and more sustained than those in Britain. However, in many cases the ascent of a very steep mountainside is rendered relatively easy by a well-made path constructed of numerous zigzags. For example, the ascent to the Col des Thures (Alternative Stage 8) is greatly facilitated by a seemingly endless zigzagging path.

In most of the mountain areas of Britain, the nearest valley can be reached from the highest hills within two or three hours. The scale of the Alpine mountains, however, is such that it is often not possible to travel on foot from one mountain base to another within a day. To overcome this problem an elaborate network of mountain refuges has been developed, offering comfortable, albeit spartan accommodation in the most isolated areas of the mountains. The refuges are very popular – a tradition of travelling in these mountains – and making use of this type of accommodation is well established. There is no equivalent system in Britain, so the British hill walker on a first visit to the Alps will find the mountain refuges a novel, and hopefully enjoyable, experience.