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

26 страница из 48

There is certainly plenty of variety on the trail, from woodland glades to rocky, high-level cols, from Alpine pastures to airy summits. The Tour includes two excursions into the Italian Alps, and there are opportunities to shorten or lengthen the route as time and conditions dictate. The route is ideal for those new to Alpine walking, while also providing optional challenges for the more experienced. Most of the day-stages are not especially long, allowing plenty of time for admiring the magnificent scenery or attempting an additional summit or footpath. Time is available at the end of a two-week holiday to visit Guillestre and nearby Briançon.

Walkers resting by the Lac de Souliers (Stage 10)

Climate – When to Go

The Queyras enjoys one of the best climates of all the Alpine regions. There are approximately 300 sunny days per year, and very often the mountains lie under a clear blue sky with uninterrupted views. Hill fog occurs less frequently than it does further north. Summers are warm, but because of the high altitude, they rarely become uncomfortably hot. Rainfall is relatively low, although low cloud and violent storms can occur in these mountains at any time, and the walker should be well prepared. The air temperature can change very rapidly in the Alps at altitude, and it can snow above about 2000m (6560ft) at any time of year, but for the most part, sunny, warm, settled weather is the general pattern through the summer months. The area does not suffer from the very hot and dry conditions experienced further south towards the Mediterranean. This combination of landscape and climate makes the Queyras an ideal area for high-mountain walking.