Hiking the Italian Alps

Piedmont, or Piemonte, is the region in Italy’s northwest bordering France and Switzerland. It’s aptly named; Piedmont (‘foot of the mountain’) is surrounded on three sides by the Alps. Italy’s highest mountains and largest glaciers are found here.

Piedmont is also home to some dear friends, so visiting the region was a double joy for us. Not only did we catch up with Benedetta (our very patient Italian tutor in Australia), but she and her wonderful family gave us the best possible introduction to their beautiful region.

And what an introduction it was - day one and we were in the Alps!

Our hike started down near the bottom of this valley

The first, short section of the track was reasonably steep, but it soon levelled out to a more steady incline

Of course, the scenery was spectacular

It was exhilarating to be hiking again, especially in that environment

Recent rains meant there was water about

It had been enough to encourage the rhododendrons to begin flowering

We met this little mountain snake along the way (we actually thought it was a worm!)

This small chapel is an important and sacred place on the track; it was a rest stop for mourners carrying out the bodies of those who'd died on the mountain

If the weather was bad, the mourners could take refuge here too (the coffin was pushed into the snow outside to preserve the body until the weather cleared and they could continue down the mountain)

An outdoor altar (priests hike into the mountains to celebrate mass with their parishioners)

There are tiny villages like these scattered throughout the mountains

For residents, walking is the only way in and out - and supplies are usually carried on their backs

There is an alternative for especially large or heavy loads; each village is connected by a steel zipline to the carpark at the bottom of the valley (that green frame on the left is the station)

Supplies are loaded into a basket and 'flown' over the treetops up to the mountains

As we discovered, though, more traditional means of transportation are also still employed

Almost at our destination

And this was it, Alpe Pianello (1800m)

We were happy to arrive at the hut, or rifugo alpino as it's called here

And even happier to find this delicious lunch waiting for us (salumi, cheese - including delicious gorgonzola - tomatoes, beans and pasta)

Enrico, on the left, talking to one of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) volunteers who staff the hut

After a great lunch we were refuelled and ready for the downhill run

A contour map of our route

And the elevation from my Strava feed

It was a fantastic hike and definitely left us wanting to see more of this beautiful part of the world