Col de la Vache

Waking up in the high mountains is a sublime pleasure. The slanting golden light fills the air with magic and gets me moving.

Here on the Haute Traverse de Belledonne route, my aim was to go over the next mountain pass. What a tremendous hike up to Col de la Vache. It was so challenging that I wanted to quit and get down from the mountains. That's when one feels the claustrophobia of the open mountains.

Eventually I scrambled up to the top and sat breathing... In awe at the view on to the first of the seven lakes. I climbed down and walked to set up camp at Lac de la Sagnes.Read more