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Les chaux depuis Gryon

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This hike starts at the Parking Les Frasses above La Babeleuse in Gryon. You can get there via a small road forking up hill in front of the Babeleuse parking. I did this hike as a snowshoe. In fact I wanted to do it as a skitouring hike but I had forgotten my skins at home... The hike is part of the Villars-Gryon randopark, a very well marked and kept set of winter trails. The trail starts uphill in front along the ski slope. I confess that I did not fully follow the path, especially at the lower part, because the slope was closed and the path was not well covered. So I preferred to go straight up on the slope which is a bit steeper. After 20-30 min you'll cross the blue slope and then after another 5 min the trail becomes less steep and then completely flattens going next to a couple of chalets. When it starts to climb again it is the best part of the trail. You go on a ridge abd see the slopes below and mountains all around. You will reach a crossroads where several paths are ind...
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Corno alle Scale: An easy ski touring in Italy

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Corno alle Scale lifts / Rifugio Cavone (1470 m) Highest point: Corno alle Scale summit cross (1945 m) Total elevation gain:  470 m Total distance:  3.8 km Total time:  1.5-2 hours (one way) Technical difficulty: Easy–Moderate (non-technical) Download GPS file Here we are! For the first time, I leave the Alps. This is the first post describing a hike in another ridge: the Apennines in Italy, not far from Bologna , my hometown (not far as the crow flies, but with busy and horrible roads it still takes about 1h50 to get there). This hike starts at the Corno alle Scale lifts, next to Rifugio Cavone (1470 m), and leads to the summit of the Corno. I did it in winter as a ski touring outing.¨ The starting point is a small side road between Rifugio Cavone and the lifts. After passing behind an old abandoned building, you reach the slopes. You can start going uphill along their edge, but soon a road branches left into the w...
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Location: Corno alle Scale, 40042 Lizzano in Belvedere, Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy
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An early snowshoe at La Berra

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🗺️  Overview Starting point: Parking of La Berra ski resort (≈1040 m) Highest point: Chalet La Berra (≈1640 m) — optional summit at 1719 m Total elevation gain: ~600 m Total distance: ~4.6 km Total time: ~2h10 Technical difficulty: Easy–Moderate (snowshoe) Download GPS file Somehow I always end up going to La Berra in winter. Located in one of the last French-speaking towns of Fribourg, La Berra is a cute little ski resort with about 20 km of ski slopes and 18 km of snowshoe trails. The hike I did starts from the very end of the parking lot of the ski resort (1040 m), where a pink start flag marks the entrance. N.B.: The path didn’t exist in my app, so the GPS file isn’t exact, even though the trail isn’t far off. From the very beginning, the route dives directly into the forest and is well marked. The least well-marked point is actually near the start, by a small iron bridge with lots of tracks leading to it. The marked path is not there—just go straigh...
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Location: La Berra, 1654 Val-de-Charmey, Switzerland
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Tour de Gourze: An autumn stroll for the whole family

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Lac de Bret (700 m) Highest point: Tour de Gourze (939 m) Total elevation gain: ~310 m Total distance: ~7 km Total time: 2.5 h (adult) / 5 h with small child (including picnic & play) Technical difficulty: Easy – suitable for families and children Download GPS file The Tour de Gourze stands at the very beginning of the Alps, in the gentle Prealpine hills just above the Lavaux area. It was a sunny November day when I decided to go with Gaia. You can reach the tower from several sides. The route I describe here starts from Lac de Bret , above Puidoux (700 m). You can park your car by the lakeshore next to the restaurant. At the corner of the lake, a small asphalt road climbs upward — there are hiking signs, though no destinations indicated yet. After a short ascent, the path briefly descends, where you’ll find the first signposts pointing left to Puidoux and right to Tour de Gourze . The climb resumes on the asphalt road, p...
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Location: Tour de Gourze, Gourze 1, 1097 Riex, Switzerland
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Chaux de Tompey via Corbeyrier

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  🗺️ Overview Starting point: Café de Luan (1220 m) Highest point: Chaux de Tompey (2015 m) or Chaux Mont (2200 m, optional) Total elevation gain: ~650 m (up to 1000 m if extended to Chaux Mont) Total distance: ~8 km (loop via La Berneuse ~11 km) Total time: 3 h 30 Technical difficulty: Moderate – steep in sections, a few unclear trail points Download GPS file Above Aigle lies an unknown corner of the Chablais. Unlike its neighbouring tourist hubs, Leysin and Villars,  Corbeyrier  feels rural and quiet—as if you’re the only wanderer around. The hike starts at Café de Luan (1220 m), just five minutes above Cobyrier. The café has its own parking, reserved for clients, but you’ll usually find a few spots on the grassy roadside nearby. On busy sunny days, you may need to leave the car in Cobyrier and either walk up (about 45 minutes) or take the small bus that runs once per hour. Shortly after the café, signs on the right indicate the path uphill toward Col de T...
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Location: 1856 Corbeyrier, Switzerland
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