So after our first night in Italy at Demonte - we headed into the amazing Val d'Arma and upto Colle Valcavera
and did some marmot spotting on the way up
a shy one
and up
and at the col de Valacavera - a whole amazing view opened up and we started on a trail
we stopped to explore some wartime forts and have a coffee
gun emplacement
Then we spoke to some German 4x4 overlanders in a G-wagen and landrover, who were backtracking since the trail we wanted to take through to Marmora was blocked by 10-15ft deep snow fields...
so we thought we would take a side trail to look at a coll, this too was blocked by snow...
had to drive into the snow though
and get recovered by AndrewT
so backtracked to the road, and plugged an alternative route into Tomtom via Colle del Vallonetto
monument in memory of Marco Pantani - looked like Gollum...
the road had a sign saying road closed, but the barrier had been put to oneside, so we decided to chance it, since yet another detour would be 2hrs more drive to get to our destination...
cow bells on a farm house
alpine meadow lunchspot
oopss the road is closed... a landslide
but the digger drive said we can come through in 30mins, so i went for a walk, but was soon called back on PMR radio saying the digger had moved and was letting us through, so i ran back, we drove through and AndrewT gave the chap a cold beer from his fridge.
the nights camp was up a valley at a old fort converted to a mountain hostel, and campsite - Campo Base near Chiappera
amazing mountains e.g. Croce Provenzale@2400m
the hostel also had a nice Bar and cakes
campo base
the next morning, after letting a group of German 4x4 led by a guide past us, we set off down the valley to Sroppo, then up a canyon to Colle di Sampeyre
and at the colle di sampeyere, we left the road for a there-and-back trail to west @2300m
a swiss couple turned up in a nice Jeep
we had a coffee break and looked at some old fortifications
steep drops by trail
and back to the col di sampeyre
we crossed the road, as there is another trail 20-30km long heading East via Colle Birrone
cloud was bubling up, at first we were above it, but after 30mins we were driving in pea soup...
on the trail there was a rattling noise of loose metal from front of truck, i discovered the brake dust shield mounts were corroded and it was loose, that evening i removed the wheel and pulled up rotten dust shield off, and zip-tied it under AndrewT's truck when he wasnt around... next morning he wasn't happy when he drove off and there was a rattling noise under his truck!
we were camped at a site in Pontechinale - it was a Friday night so the site was a bit busy with Italians out for the weekend
nice village to explore - ponechinale
next day we stopped at market to buy more food etc
spotted an "ape" with this towel on back
TBC