Читать книгу Walking and Trekking in the Gran Paradiso. Alta Via 2 trek and 28 day walks онлайн

8 страница из 55

Ibex at rest below the Gran Paradiso

The curious and romantic name Gran Paradiso goes back much further than the kings. While most experts say that the name Gran Paradiso, referring to the 4061m peak itself, is a contortion of ‘granta parei’ or ‘great wall’, some say that it comes from the presence of so many saints at the head of Valnontey – the peaks of San Pietro, San Andrea and Sant'Orso – and despite the nearby Punta dell'Inferno (Hell Point) and Testa della Tribolazione (Tribulation Peak).

Walks and treks

In the mid-1800s around 350km of wide tracks were constructed at the king's expense, along with five hunting lodges and mountain huts, manned by a veritable army of gamekeepers (converted poachers), beaters and porters. A total of 470km signed paths are now on offer – a good few summers' walking! Altitudes range from a thousand metres above sea level to over 3000 metres in permanent snow. In between are strolls across flowered meadows and conifer woods, steep heart-testing climbs over rough unstable terrain (inevitably followed by knee-knocking descents) and even cool snowfield traverses.