Hiking in the Alps

We were sufficiently close to the Alps while we were in Provence that we went for a hike on one of the days Eric didn't have to go to the archives. He found an absolutely beautiful hike that was only about a 2.5 hour drive from our hotel. We thought we'd maybe get out, hike a bit, and then turn around when the kids got tired. But to surprise Eric they planned on hiking the entire 5+ mile loop, which included a huge altitude change. Rebecca is so determined that when she gets something in her head, she does it well, and she was an absolute trooper on the hike. We really didn't hear a single complaint from either kid the entire way up or down. And so, we got rewarded with really pretty views!


Here we are starting out. You can sort of see the base of a waterfall in this picture. It was a beautiful waterfall, and we hiked up to its top along our ascent.


Both kids did the entire hike in their Crocs, because that was all I had packed for our trip to Provence. They managed just fine, as the trail was pretty well maintained, although there were a few places that required some scrambling.





It was quite a bit warmer than we expected, because the sun stayed out longer than anticipated, so we enjoyed resting in the shade when we found it.




There's that waterfall in the background again...We're getting closer to the top. Right across this bridge was a little area where the kids could dip their feet in the cool water. They played for a while there, and we also found a patch of wild raspberries that we nibbled. I think that was their favorite place along the way, and I don't blame them!





Here is Rebecca easily scrambling up one of the rocky edges. I have more pictures of Rebecca than Justin actually in action because he was up ahead with Eric. And I was taking up the rear, where I suspect I will be for most family hikes from now on...



Almost at the top, before we started descending around the other side, we spent some more time in a stream, and then visited a little lake. Rebecca found a bunch of tadpoles and tiny frogs, and even got to catch a few (which she then released, lest you think we robbed the mountain of its frogs...)





Just before we started heading back down, we saw big clouds gathering. The way down was much cooler than the way up, but we didn't get rained on.  Amazingly, even in mid-September, we passed some patches of snow pack! The man I chatted with on the way down said he'd never seen so much snow so late in the year.




On the way back home we stopped in Gap and ate dinner at a delicious restaurant in the old part of town, right next to a little stream-like canal that ran through the middle of the city. It was well-deserved!






We all slept well that night (after we got back, that is, having gotten lost again since a police car was blocking the only street that actually allowed access to our hotel...it eventually moved and when we circled back after trying and failing to find another route in, we finally made it!)

We were so proud of the kids for hiking so high, so far, and so well!

Comments

  1. din'illahi15 October 2018 at 13:51

    Awesome that your kids like to hike (in crocs) and that you had good weather. I prefer hiking in minimalist shoes these days myself 🙂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel15 October 2018 at 15:24

      Yes, it was a lovely day! The Crocs worked great, although they don't have the best traction. I think a more traction-y minimalist shoe would be better. Easy to pack, but still good for slippery parts. What kind do you use?

      Delete
  2. din'illahi16 October 2018 at 11:28

    i use merrils and love them. they dont make my favorite model anymore (they make similar ones) but jim found 2 pairs on ebay, barely used, so i am stocked up for when this pair wears out! (-:

    ReplyDelete

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