High Route of the Giants: Four-Legged Adventures Among Mountains and Refuges
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A TALE OF STEPS, FUR, AND LANDSCAPES
- Watch the full story: https://youtu.be/HYCMfIa1mDw
- The story captured in a 59-second video: https://youtube.com/shorts/XlbwZ3w7zcM?feature=share
Deep breath, step by step, with Skye and Iride at my side: this is how our longest and most extreme trek begins, along the trails passing near the highest peaks of the Alps, traversing Alta Via NĀ°1 of the Aosta Valley. Each day is a story in itself, a diary of discoveries, challenges, and emotions.
As has become tradition in my Alpine excursions, this adventure is also enhanced by the loyal and tireless company of my two faithful dogs. Between leashes, unexpected encounters, and nights under the stars, this is the story of our journey through wild and untamed nature.
The First Breath of the Mountain
The journey begins with the excitement that only nature can evoke. Our first steps along the trails lead us through lush forests and flowering meadows, a true paradise for my four-legged explorers.
The beginning is always a mix of expectations and slight anxiety: how will Skye and Iride react to the long walks? The answer comes quickly: with enthusiasm and vigor, almost as if they were born for this.
Between Encounters and Discoveries
Every day is a new discovery, not only of places but also of encounters. My furry companions attract the attention and sympathy of travelers and locals.
When we arrive at the bed&breakfast in Valtournenche, halfway through, the welcome from the owner and the company of another guest turn a simple stop into a moment of sharing and warmth. Skye and Iride rest, while we humans find ourselves immersed in a spontaneous and lively conversation about the journeys we are undertaking and life in general. This half-hour of chat not only refreshes the body but also the spirit, reminding me that adventure is made of steps and landscapes, but also of encounters and shared stories.
Challenges and Reflections
As we proceed, the journey takes on more intense shades. Fatigue makes itself felt, but with it also grows the bond with my dogs. We encounter difficulties: finding water, a suitable place for the tent, managing small emergencies like when Skye decides to roll in something decidedly unpleasant. But it is in these moments that the journey becomes more meaningful, more than a simple hike: a true life experience.
The adventure unfolds through less-traveled trails, overnight stays in mountain huts, and the continual awe of breathtaking panoramas. Life in a tent becomes routine, a routine made of simplicity, high-altitude nights, and the sweet weight of tiredness after a day of walking.
More than a Journey, a Life Lesson
The fear of storms at altitude makes us walk faster. We reach the end of our journey, in Courmayeur, one day earlier than expected.
This journey with Skye and Iride has been more than a simple adventure: it has been a life lesson. I learned that happiness is found in simple things, in the bond with nature, and with my dogs.
Returning to civilization brings with it the promise of new adventures, but also the sweet nostalgia for those days spent in the mountains, chasing the horizon with two faithful friends at my side.
Because, as in every respectable journey, it’s not so much the destination that counts, but the steps taken to reach it. And these steps, together with Skye and Iride, have been the most beautiful I could wish for.
- Watch the full story: https://youtu.be/HYCMfIa1mDw
- The story captured in a 59-second video: https://youtube.com/shorts/XlbwZ3w7zcM?feature=share
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