The final map for our two month trip based on the GTA route, planned for next July and August, arrived today from Stanfords. The whole set weighs in at 1200 gm – not too bad for such a long trip, and we will be able to post maps home as we amble along the French/Italian border from Menton to the Monte Rosa massif some 400 miles up the trail.The idea for this jaunt came from Gillian Price’s Cicerone guidebook “Through The Italian Alps” (see photo), but the GTA route described by Gillian takes a modest line and incorporates possibilities for meals and lodgings most nights. We plan to stick basically to that route, but will camp high where practicable, and weather permitting we’ll try some more remote options – perhaps a bit like the Pyrenees High Level Route is to GR10 or GR11.
So now I can do some more detailed route planning, though however much of that is done in advance, it will only ever be a rough guide once we are on the trail.
7 comments:
Hi Phreerunner,
just read your comments about the OS show and your little note about the IGN maps brought me to your GTA posting.
I did hike hike the whole length of the GTa over the past several years so if the guidebooks/maps leave some questions open I'm happy to help out.
Cheers
Roman - Lighthiker
Thanks Roman
That's potentially really helpful and much appreciated. We won't be slavishly following the GTA route. What we now have in mind is to follow the Italian border, staying in Italy except where there are obvious benefits of straying over the border, starting with our feet in the Med. This summer's 2 month trip might get us as far as the Monte Rosa area, and in the future we could return to complete the task, finishing somewhere near Trieste!!
For the moment I still have to get the maps out and plan the first part of the route, so that could result in my deciding to stick to the original GTA plan. I'm currently wondering whether to carry axe and crampons when we start at the end of June.
Regards
Martin
Hi Martin,
great plan! I bet Judy Armstrong could provide you some help based on her last years experiences in that area (www.alpinechallenge.info)
Looking back to my own experiences from the GTA and Via Alpina I would say an Ice axe and/or crampons are definitely not needed when you start end of June, especially given the fact the the southern Alps tend to be warmer than the northern parts anyhow.
Thanks again Roman. I was a bit concerned about the Monte Viso area and elsewhere, and the possibility of having to cross steep snow gullies.
I tried to follow Judy's exploits last year without much success - I got the impression she finished up doing a series of shortish circular trips - the reports on which I can't seem to find on her website. I heard her interview with Bob, but that seemed to concentrate on kit, not what she actually did!
I'll have to try again...
Hi Martin,
unless you don't plan to climb Monviso from Rif. Quintinio Sella and just follow the GTA path you should not encounter any snow at all. The Monviso is kind of on the edge of the Alps range before it disappears into the Po delta therefore it warms up there much faster compared to regions more "within" the Alps.
cheers
Roman
And again...
Before I forget...if they ever get it working again this is the webcam address from Quintinio Sella:
http://www.regione.piemonte.it/montagna/areemontane/webcam5.htm
Roman
Great, I wish I had time to do more detailed planning NOW, but there are more urgent trips to finalise arrangements for first..
Martin
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