Two easy cols on Day 13 led past coloured rock faces and through forests to an area with more pastoral farming, the Valle Maira. The magnificent Stroppia waterfall overlooked the first part of day 14 before the long flower-bedecked climb to Colle de Bellino, high point of the GTA at just over 2800m, and then the challenging descent to Pian Meleze past a snow-filled ravine in thick fog. Remains of old farmhouses built against rock walls evoked a difficult past life for farmers. Several beautiful Occitan villages with distinctive architecture marked the beginning of Day 15 before another col led us to our first planned rest day at Pontechianale, a new settlement on the shores of a large hydro-electric lake. For our 'day off' we strolled up to the picturesque village of Chianale at the foot of the pass leading in to the Queyras in France. After an early morning lakeside walk, day 17 saw us climb up to one of our highest overnight stays beneath the towering Monviso visible from day 1 to day 22. Numerous ibex visited the refuge to lick salt from the walls ... and the following morning we were privileged to see, just above us, young males testing themselves out in a fight. Day 18 also saw us arrive at the source of the River Po before another long climb out of the Po valley to a refuge named after the Englishwoman and her husband who gave it to the Club Alpino.
To see the photos for week 3 click here

Route3 - Accommodation3 - Photos Cols - Photos Accommodation - Photos Panoramas - 6 - 5 - 4 - 2- 1