Walking and Trekking in the Gran Paradiso. Gillian Price

      

      GRAN PARADISO

      ALTA VIA 2 TREK AND DAY WALKS

      by

      Gillian Price

      JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,

      OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Gillian Price was born in England but moved to Australia when young. After taking a degree in anthropology and working in adult education, she set off to travel through Asia and trek the Himalayas. The culmination of her journey was Venice where, her enthusiasm fired for mountains, the next logical step was towards the Dolomites, only hours away. Starting from there, Gillian has been steadily exploring the mountain ranges and flatter bits of Italy and bringing them to life for visitors in a series of outstanding guides for Cicerone. An ardent promoter of public transport to minimise environmental impact, she is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club (Club Alpino Italiano) and Mountain Wilderness. When not out walking with Nicola, her Venetian cartographer husband, Gillian works as a freelance travel writer (www.gillianprice.eu).

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      Across the Eastern Alps: E5

      Alpine Flowers

      Italy's Sibillini National Park

      Italy's Stelvio National Park

      Shorter Walks in the Dolomites

      The Tour of the Bernina

      Through the Italian Alps

      Trekking in the Alps (contributor)

      Trekking in the Apennines

      Trekking in the Dolomites

      Walking and Trekking on Corfu

      Walking in the Central Italian Alps

      Walking in the Dolomites

      Walking in Sicily

      Walking in Tuscany

      Walking on Corsica

      Walking on the Amalfi Coast

      Walking the Italian Lakes

      Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps

      © Gillian Price 2018

      Third edition 2018

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 923 8

      Second edition 2008

      First edition (entitled Walking in Italy’s Gran Paradiso) 1997

      Maps and diagrams by Nicola Regine

      Photos by Gillian Price and Nicola Regine

      Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      Dedication

      To Nicola (who else?) with all my love

      Acknowledgements

      For little Bet and little Dave, as well as Alastair, Giacomo, James, Kate, Kieran and Morgan, all big enough to carry their own rucksacks (and their aunty's) now.

      Thanks to Nicola once more for his patient labour on the maps and diagrams. For this second edition I was also lucky to have the help of Gran Paradiso park ranger Roberto Cristofani and colleagues who provided precious suggestions. My keen walking companions from visits past and recent were Piero, Bruno, Grazia, Edda and Giampietro, Clive, Lucy, Alice and Holly. Last but not least are the majestic ibex, shy chamois and comical marmots, too numerous to name individually, who make this area so special.

      Updates to this guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/923/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal LA9 7RL.

      Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.

      Front cover: Lovely Lago di Lauson is close to Rifugio Vittorio Sella (AV2 Stage 5 and Walk 4)

      CONTENTS

       Map key

       Overview map

       Introduction

       The Gran Paradiso National Park

       Valleys and bases

       Information

       Access

       When to go

       How to use this book

       Path marking

       Dos and don'ts

       Emergencies

       Mountaineering and guides

       Maps

       Accommodation

       What to take

       Wildlife

       Vegetation

       Local traditions

       Further suggestions

       Alta Via 2

       Stage