Pete's Blog - Week 7(d)
Astutely, Ivan had planned the next day to be a rest day: some of us did rest and some spent the day climbing up local mountains! We also, sadly, said goodbye to Josiane who had to leave us here.
We did get an early start the next day for our jouney into the wilder parts of the Mercantour National Park. We were heading for the Refuge de Madone de Fenestre ( 1903m ) via the pas des Ladres ( 2448m ). It was to turn out to be the ideal walking day that started with a lovely forest walk following the torrent, a stiff rocky climb to the pass, with hard and rugged mountains all around, and warm but not hot weather. During the descent to the refuge we passed dozens of chamois and everyone got plenty of close up photos of them. You may have guessed from the name that near to the refuge was a church that is a place of pilgrimage. The setting with towering mountains all around seemed very appropriate and it was an ideal place to reflect that this was our last full week of trekking. Only four more walking days left!