14/07/2017 – 19/07/2017 Gran Paradiso
Gran Paradiso National Park, ITALY
Distance: 97km Total Ascent: 5,520m Total Descent: 4,800m
Time: 35 hours
Participants: Jenny Asquith, Hannah Brody, Mel Brody, Paul Brody, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (report), Erica Fantini (Guide), Karen Laverack, Simon Marlton
Gran Paradiso is Italy’s oldest national park. It includes numerous soaring peaks, massifs, glaciers, interconnected ridges and cols separated by deep tranquil valleys and rushing streams. Within the park the 4061m Gran Paradiso is the dominant peak but there are also sweeping panoramas beyond towards the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. Closer up one an observe alpine meadows and ice-smoothed rock faces. We observed chamois, ibex and alpine marmots and many wildflowers.
Throughout the area there are many different signposted walking trails. Here we participated in our first ever guided walk, as we had decided to join a group of friends to explore this area of Alpine Italy.
