Hiking in Andorra - Fontverd Route [Escardes-Engordany]

Hiking course where Tomo & Chouchou walked

Country: Andorra

Area: Escaldes-Engordany

Course: Fontverd Route [Trails of Andorra、No.52]

Hiking hours: 3 hours 45 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate

 

We need to climb rocky route at the beginning.

[UNESCO] The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

(Catalan: Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror, 

French: Vallée du Madriu-Perafita-Claror, 

Spanish: Valle de Madriu-Perafita-Claror)

 

 

We could see the valley.

 

 

 

Here is the steepest rocky slope in this hiking course.

 

 

Altitude 1840m; Less rocks and flat area. 

We can enjoy more green plants. 

We start to walk along the stream.

Easy to walk around here.

We can also enjoy a big nature while walking. 

 

 

Fontverd Refuge (Refugi de Fontverd).

It was our turning point.

In front of Fontverd Refuge. 

There were the stream and the bridge. 

 

We could see a butterfly of Pyrenees.

We had to pass the rocky cliff.  It was scary.

At the end, we came back to the departure point.

Here is the hiking map of Fontverd Route.

Episode of Fontverd Route

We really liked the course walking along the stream until the Refuge. We could enjoy this hiking at different angles; looking down the valley from high altitude, looking up the mountain while walking along the stream, and walking thrilling rocky route. 

We wanted to go to refuge to take a rest. However some people live at the refuge. So we couldn't enter there. Around the refuge, we also found a cow carcass. We felt uncomfortable. So we took our lunch at the different place. Anyway around the refuge was the beautiful spot of this hiking course. 

We could enjoy many faces of the Pyrenees through Fontverd Route of Escaldes-Engordany. Scenery of the Pyrenees mountain was very beautiful. It's worth  visiting!
 

Tomo & Chouochou's Advices

1)You had better not take a rest at refuge.
2)You had better not take your lunch at refuge.
3)If you want to enjoy hiking in Andorra, you can get a hiking book "Trails of Andorra" at tourist information. This book explains 54 hiking courses with hiking maps. It is very useful.  

Relating articles

・　Hiking - Lake Juclar in Canillo

・　Hiking - Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny

・　Andorra la Vella

Hiking - Étretat, Normandy, France (1)

Étretat is located in Normandy (French: Normandie) region in France.
Étretat has long white cliffs formed by sedimentary rocks of Limestone along the seashore.

First, we found one of the paintings of Étretat

drawn by Claude Monet 

near the entrance of the beach. 

We found several boats on the Étretat beach.

 

 

We can already see the most famous points of Étretat

 "Porte d'Aval (La falaise d'Aval)" from the beach.

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We walked to the left and went up the hill.

On the hill of Étretat.

 Walking course was very organized. Easy to walk and follow.

After walking a while, we found the bridge to go into the cliff.

Tomo is on the bridge to the cliff. Chouchou is inside the cliff.

We could enter this cliff.
There was nothing special inside the cliff. But it was fun.

We could see "Manneporte".

We were located between Manneporte & "Porte d'Aval (La falaise d'Aval)"

We could see the long white cliffs continuing further ahead.

The natural arch is called "Porte d'Aval (La falaise d'Aval)".

The pointed rock is called "Aiguille" or "The Needle".

Here is the most famous view points.
 

Claude Monet drew some paintings from this spot. 

For Tomo & Chouchou, Porte d'Aval looks like an elephant. :) 

Don't you think so??

To be continued ... Étretat (2) - right side from the entrance

Episode of Étretat

Tomo & Chouchou have been to Étretat several times but we have never felt bored. Because Étretat is very beautiful place, and depending on the weather, landscape changes and we can always discover something new.
French famous painter "Claude Monet" had drawn so many paintings at Étretat. It is very understandable when you see this scenery.

We can access to the beach from the downtown village of Étretat. As soon as you enter this entrance, you will find the cliffs on the left side and on the right side.

 

We came to Étretat for hiking this time. Hiking course is to follow the coast of Étretat. Our hiking course is to follow the coast. First we went up the left hill. Walking road was very organized. It was easy to follow. On the way to the main spot, we could enter the one of the cliffs. When we arrived to the highest place of the hill, we could see the long white cliffs continuing further ahead. Landscape was very beautiful. We also enjoyed the landscape from the most famous spot where we can see  "Porte d'Aval (La falaise d'Aval)" and "Aiguille". This natural arch and the pointed rock are formed by the wave, rain and wind by many years. We can feel the power of the nature a lot. Claude Monet drew some paintings from this spot. Tomo & Chouchou think this is the most beautiful spots in Étretat.

 

 

Tomo&Chouchou's advice for Étretat 

 

1)If you go to Étretat, the summer is the best time!

In Normandy, it rains a lot all year long but in summer, it's relatively sunny.

If you go to Étretat on sunny day, you can see shining blue or green ocean.

2)Walking course from the entrance to the main famous point to see Porte d'Aval and going back to the entrance is not so difficult for the elder people to walk. This course is enough to enjoy Étretat.

 

3)After watching main view point, you can go back the same way to the entrance. Or you can continue to walk to the longer hiking course. If you continue to longer hiking course, you can find long tunnel in the cliff. You can also entered this tunnel. There is a hidden beach in Etretat. So explore Étretat in your way !

Mt.Motoshirane hike & Yugama in Kusatsu, Japan

Hiking course that Tomo & Chouchou went

Shirane Rest House (Japanese: 白根レストハウス) 　➡　Yugama crater lake（Japanese: 湯釜, Yugama)  on foot of Mt. Shirane (Japanese: 白根山, Shirane-san)　➡　Shirane Rest House 　➡　Mt.Ainomine　➡　Mt.Motoshirane　➡　Shirane Rest House　

  You can enjoy 3 mountains though this hiking; 

1) Mt. Shirane =Mt.Kusatsu-Shirane 2160 m high, active volcano
    (Japanese: 草津白根山, Kusatsu-shirane-san)
2) Mt.Ainomine 2110 m high (Japanese: 逢ノ峰, Ainomine)
3) Mt.Motoshirane 2171 m high, volcano (Japanese: 本白根山, Motoshirane-san)

Location: Kusatsu-matchi, Agatsuma-gun in Gunma prefecture
                (Japanese: 群馬県吾妻郡草津町)

 

Mt. Shirane (=Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane,

2160m high, active volcano)

There is a crater lake called "Yugama" on the foot of Mt.Shirane.

This is the Shirane Rest House.

Many buses stop around here. 

We can walk to Yugama from here.

 

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Start to climb Mt. Shirane

 

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The view from Mt.Kusatsu-Shirane.

On the way from Shirane Rest House to Yugama

 

The view from Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane.

 We can see many mountains around such as

 Mt. Motoshirane and Mt. Ainomine.

The view of Mt.Kusatsu-Shirane.

We could see Yumiike pond (Japanese: 弓池, Yumi-ike). 

This is Yugama (Japanese: 湯釜). 

Yugama is one of the most famous and largest of three crater lakes

 of Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane (Japanese: 草津白根山).
It's an emerald-green or turquoise-colored crater lake.

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Go back down to Shirane Rest House

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Go across the car road

 Here is the trailhead of Mt.Ainomine and Mt.Motoshirane.

There are stairs to go up.

 

We can see Yugama from Mt.Ainomine.

The hiking trail to Mt.Motoshirane. 

Easy to walk. 

We can enjoy the landscape of mountains all the time.

We could see the top of Mt.Motoshirane.

 

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Go back to the Shirane Rest House.

 

Episode of Hiking 3 mountains in Kusatsu

Tomo & Chouchou dreamed of seeing Yugama, which is an emerald-green or turquoise-colored crater lake on the foot of Mt.Shirane (=Mt.Kusatsu-Shirane). In front of Mt.Shirane (=Mt.Kusatsu-Shirane), there is Mt. Motoshirane. Mt.Ainomine is located between Mt.Shirane and Mt.Motoshirane. So there are three mountains to hike! So we decided to enjoy Yugama, hiking and hot spring in Kusatsu. 

We took a bus from Kusatsu-onsen Bus Terminal to Mt.Shirane. Bus stops around the Shirane Rest House.

The hiking trail to Yugama was very crowded by the tourists, but we walked up Mt.Shirane at first. On the way to go up to Yugama, the landscape was very beautiful. We could see many mountains and Yumiike pond. 

When we arrived at Yugama, so many tourists were taking photos. It was very crowded. But we could understand their feeling. Because the color of Yugama crator lake was so bright as the travel brochere. We were fascinated by the beauty of the nature.

We went down from Yugama, passed the rest house, acrossed the car road, then headed to the trailhead of Mt. Ainomine. Hiking course was nice and easy to walk.  It was not the hike in the forest. It was the hike on the top of the mountains all the time. So we could enjoy the landscape of mountains while walking.
On the top of Mt.Motoshirane, we can enjoy the 360 degrees wide view. We can also see Yugama far. We took our lunch on the top of Mt.Motoshirane.

After 30 minutes down from the top of Mt. Motoshirane, we found the pond called "Kagami-ike" (Japanese: 鏡池). After going down more, we found the Shirane Kazan Ropeway. Ropeway runs from Sancho station (near the top of Mt. Ainomine) to Sanroku station. But Tomo & Chouchou didn't take a ropeway. We walked back to the rest house to take a bus to Kusatsu-onsen.
Three mountains in Kusatsu are not so high mountains but we could enjoy the hike and the landscape like we were hiking high mountains.

Tomo Chouchou's advice for hiking

1) If you have difficulty to climb the mountain or go down the mountain, you can use Shirane Kazan Ropeway. Ropeway runs from Sanroku station to Sancho station (near the top of Mt.Ainomine). You can also use one way to go up or to go down.

2) Enjoy your lunch on the top of Mt. Motoshirane. The view from the top of Mt.Motoshirane is really nice. It's 360 degree wide view.

3) Many tour buses stop around Shirane rest house. We can walk up to Yugama from the rest house. It's not difficult to hike. Many tourists only enjoy walking course between Shirane Rest Hourse and Yugama. This walking course is very crowded, but other hiking courses are not crowded.

4) We can access to Mt.Shirane from Kusatsu Hot Spring (Japanese: 草津温泉, Kusatsu-onsen). It takes 30 minutes by bus. It costs around 1000yen. We can book a bus ticket at Kusatsu-onsen Bus Terminal. You can book an accomodation at Kusatsu hot spring then you can come visit to Mt.Shirane for hiking or sightseeing! Don't miss Yugama in Kusatsu! It's very worth to see it!


information
Mt.Kusatu-shirane was erupted on January 23, 2018.
You had better check if you can hike there.


Other places in Gunma, Japan

- Oze Marshland [Ozegahara] hike

- Fukiware Falls [Fukiware-no-Taki]

Happo-one hike in Hakuba, Nagano, Japan

Happo-One Nature Study Trail [八方尾根自然研究路]
Happo-one is in Hakuba Alpen Resort.
Hakuba is in Nagano prefecture in Japan.
Hakuba is the small village located at the foot of the Japanese Northern Alps/ Northern Japan Alps.

How & Where to go to hike Happo-one?
1.Take a bus from JR Hakuba station [Japanese: JR白馬駅] to Happo bus terminal [Japanese: 八方バスターミナル]
2.walk until Happo Gondola Lift ADAM [Japanese: 八方ゴンドラリフトアダム].
3.Take the Happo Gondola Lift [Japanese: 八方ゴンドラリフト] to an altitude of 1400m.
4.Take the Alpen Quad Lift [Japanese: アルペンクアッドリフト], then hike from an altitude of 1680m.

Tomo&Chouchou took a bus from JR Hakuba station [Japanese: JR白馬駅].

 

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Got off at Happo Bus Terminal [Japanese: 八方バスターミナル].

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Walked to the Happo Gondola Lift ADAM.

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Happo Gondola Lift ADAM 

[Japanese: 八方ゴンドラリフトアダム]

We took the Happo Gondola Lift until an altitude of 1400m.

 

 

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We went up until the altitude of 1680m 

by Alpen Quad Lift.[Japanese: アルペンクワッドリフト].

We arrived at Nagano Olympic Start House.

Then we started hiking from there.

 

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At the beginning of the trail of Happo-one.

We could see many green trees.
It was like walking in the forest.

 

 

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We could see a mountain range of Happo-one in front.

 

 

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trail Around Maruyama Cairn [Japanese: 丸山ケルン],
we needed to walk on the small rocks.

 

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We arrived at Maruyama Cairn which is 2430m high.

Maruyama Cairn [Japanese: 丸山ケルン] in the back.

There was another cairn build by the hikers beside the Maruyama Cairn.

 

manisificent view to see the Japanese Alps from the Maruyama Cairn.

We could see the clouds and high mountains very close.

We could feel the power of the nature.

 

We had a picnic at the Maruyama Cairn.

We could enjoy the scenery all the time while having lunch. 

 

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We went down back.

 

While going down from the Maruyama Cairn,

We found the fan-shaped snow ravine. 

[Japanese: 扇の雪渓（せっけい)]
Snow ravine was between the 3rd Cairn and the Maruyama Cairn. 

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We went down a bit.

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There was the Happo pond [Japanese: Happo-ike; 八方池] 

at an altitude of 2050m. 

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We passed Happo Cairn [Japanese: 八方ケルン] at an altitude of 2035m.

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We came back to the Nagano Olympic Start House 

[Japanese: 長野オリンピックスタートハウス].

We went down by the lifts.

Episode of Happo-one hike

Tomo&Chouchou decided to hike in Northern Japan Alps. Hakuba is located at the foot of the Japanese Northern Alps, so we booked an accomodation in Hakuba in Nagano prefecture.

Firstly, we decided to hike Happo-one Nature Study Trail in Hakuba Alpen Resort.
We took a bus from JR Hakuba station to Happo bus terminal, then we walked till Happo Gondola Lift ADAM to go to the start point for hiking in Happo-one.

Firstly, we went up till the altitude of 1400m by Happo Gondola Lift. Next, we went up untill the altitude of 1680m by Alpen Quad Lift. Then we started to hike from there.
Unfortunately, it was slightly raining and foggy. But the atmosphere was like the secrets of nature! It was the healing trail.

At the beginning of the hiking course, we could see many green trees. It was like walking in the forest. The higher the altitude is, the less the trees are.
Unfortunately, we couldn't enjoy the view on the way to go up because of the fog. But little by little, the fog was disappearing. Then we could see a mountain range in front. The trail condition changed around Maruyama Cairn. We needed to walk on the small rocks. The cloud was floating at the same height as we were. When we approached to Maruyama Cairn, the fog disappeared and the sun showed up.
Finally we arrived at Maruyama Cairn which is 2430m high. It was manisificent view to see the Japanese Alps from the Maruyama Cairn. We could see the clouds and high mountains very close. We could feel the power of the nature and the landscape was impressive. We were so happy to feel the nature and see such a valuable view which only people who climbed by themselves. The cloud changed the shape quickly, so the view of mountains also changed quickly. We never got bored to see such a scenery. It was the most impressive scenery from the top of the mountain. We decided to have lunch at Maruyama Cairn so that we could enjoy this fantastic landscape all the time! It became unforgettable moment in our lives! We took many photos and we enjoyed taking a rest at Maruyama Cairn.

We wanted to climb until the top of Mt.Karamatsu-Dake [唐松岳]. However we didn't have enough time to catch a last bus to go back to our accomodation in Hakuba, so we decided to go down the mountain.

While going down from the Maruyama Cairn, we found the fan-shaped snow ravine [扇の雪渓]. Snow ravine was between the 3rd Cairn and the Maruyama Cairn.
After going down a bit from the snow ravine, there was the Happo pond / Happo-ike pond [八方池] at an altitude of 2050m. The Happo pond was blue and the water of the pond was transparent. Near Happo pond, we enjoyed sea of clouds. It was wonderful scenery. We were moved to see the beauty of the clouds.
On the way to go down, it was sunny. So this time, we could take a photo in front of the Happo Cairn at an altitude of 2035m.

Our hiking course in Happo-one was starting from Nagano Olympic Start House [長野オリンピックスタートハウス], going through the Happo Cairn [八方ケルン] at an altitude of 2035m, and going until the Maruyama Cairn [丸山ケルン] at an altitude of 2430m. But you can keep climbing until the top of Mt.Karamatsu-Dake [唐松岳] at an altitude of 2696m. The trail of Happo-one was neither keeping going up nor keep goind down. So there were up & down by turns. There was also some flat area to walk. It is a very enjoyable hiking course. Anyway we were so satisfied with this Happo-One hike.

 

Tomo&Chouchou's impression about Happo-One Hiking

It was the hike under the little rain and thick fog. At the beginning, Tomo was not so happy to hike in such a condition as Tomo was a beginner hiker. But it was just under the clouds. After we went up above the clouds, it was like a paradise! Tomo didn't know about it. Tomo really enjoyed the scenery above the clouds. We felt like we were on the clouds! Happo-One became our favorite hiking place. We will never forget such a fantastic landscape!


Information

Happo One Nature Study Trail map (PDF) - written in English
https://www.happo-one.jp/wp2019/wp-content/themes/happo-one2020/img/info/pdf/Happo-oneRouteGuide.pdf

八方尾根研究路ガイド - Happo One webpage written in Japanese
https://www.nsd-hakuba.jp/green/happo/kenkyu.html


Relating article

* Oze Marshland [Ozegahara] hike

Hiking - Lysefjord, Norway

How to go to Lysefjord?

Take a ferry from Stavanger to Tau.
Take a bus from Tau to Preikestolen.

We took a ferry from Stavanger

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Arrived in Tau.

We took a bus to Preikestolen.

 

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Arrived at Preikestolen. 

We arrived at the starting point of Lysefjord hike.

There was the information for hiking there. 

We dropped our big luggages there during our hike.

 

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Start Lysefjord hiking !

Lysefjord hiking was the hike to climb up the big rocks.

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Finally, we could see Norwegian fjord !

 

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Chouchou continued to climb up until the top.

Tomo decided to go down.

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Chouchou started to see the cliff on the top.

Lysefjord from the top of the mountain.

This is the main view spot of Lysefjord hiking.

 

 

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 Chouchou caught up Tomo.

We went down together.

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Finish hiking.

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We succeeded to catch the last bus to go to Tau. 

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A ferry to Stavanger from Tau.

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We came back to Stavanger.

Episode of Lysefjord hiking

Tomo & Chouchou decided to go to Lysefjord in Norway for hiking. To go to Lysefjord, we can go by ferry from Stavanger. We went to the local travel agency to register the group tour to Lysefjord. We booked the group tour to Lysefjord for the next day. But the travel agency cancelled just before the departure. Then our travel plan became mess. Our main reason to come to Norway was for Lysefjord. We also made our all itinerary before coming, and we were planned to hike only on that day. There was no more other days to go and hike in Lysefjord. We must go to Bergen next day. We really wanted to go to Lysefjord, so we decided to go to tourist information for the last chance. We asked the tourist information about the Lysefjord hike and the transportation to go to Lysefjord and to come back on the same day. They said that we must take a ferry and a bus to go there. They also said that  we must take next ferry which would leave in 5 minutes if we want to hike in Lysefjord. We quickly asked the ferry terminal. They told us very roughly. Anyway we didn't have time so we ran toward the sea. We luckily found the ferry terminal and jumped to the ferry ! It was very sweating and tiring to catch a ferry.
Ferry arrived at Tau, then we took a bus direction to Preikestolen. Then, finally, we arrived the starting point of Lysefjord hike. There was an information at the starting point. They can keep our big luggage at the entrance. We asked how long it will take to hike Lysefjord to the staff in the information. They said it would be about one hour. So we were relieved to know that we have enough time to catch the last bus.
It was the hike to climb up the big rocks. A rock was very big so it was difficult for small Tomo to reach and climb with her short legs. Unfortunately Tomo took more time to hike. Moreover, Tomo had just started to hike and she was a beginner. So Lysefjord hike was difficult and long for Tomo. Chouchou had hiking experiences so Chouchou could hike faster.
One hour passed so fast. We realized it was impossible to hike in one hour. We hadn't seen any fiord/fjord landscape yet. We started to worry if we can see fjord landscape before going back down. So we made so much effort to hurry to climb up. We got used to climb rocks and we climbed faster and faster. Finally, we could see Norwegian fjord ! We could succeed to climb until the fjord spot. But we cannot miss the last bus. So Tomo gave up to climb till the top and decided to go down. Tomo asked Chouchou to keep climbing until the top and take some photos for her. Chouchou continued to climb up to the top and made an effort to hurry to the top. Chouchou could see the cliff on the top. Looking at Lysefjord from the top of the mountain was magnificent.
Then Chouchou quickly went down and caught up Tomo soon.
We succeeded to catch the last bus to go to Tau. Then we changed to the ferry from Tau. We could come back to Stavanger by ferry.

Tomo & Chouchou's advice for Lysefjord hiking

If you go hiking to Lysefjord, you had better have enough time to hike.
Also you had better go directly to tourist information to check the ferry and bus to go to Lysefjord instead of local travel agency, we think. Because the local travel agency didn't contact us about their tour was cancelled and we lost our time.
Please think well and decide if you join the group tour or you go by yourself according to your itinerary.

Relating article

* Bergen

Hiking - Puy de Sancy in Auvergne, France

Tomo & Chouchou's favorite hiking place "Puy de Sancy".
 

Altitude: 1885m, 6188ft
Puy de Sancy is the highest mountain in the Massif Central in Auvergne, France.
Puy de Sancy is a volcano located in the Mont-Dore in the biggest French regional natural park; Parc naturel régional des volcans d'Auvergne.

Here's the car parking for the hikers who go to Puy de Sancy.

 

In front of the car parking, there are stairs.
You go up the stairs, then the hiking trail to Puy de Sancy starts.
The starting point is 1220m high. 

 

 

As soon as we started hiking, 

we could see the beautiful mountains of Massif Central. 

 

After going up the half way to the top of Puy de Sancy,

we could see the magnificent and precipitous mountains. 

There was an hiking trail to go down from there.
Chouchou was about to follow other hikers and to go down mistakenly.

There was another hiking trail to go up to the summit from there.

We continued to go up to the summit.

360-degrees view of the green mountains in Auvergne

 from the top of Puy de Sancy.

 

 

several other hiking roads 

continuing to other mountains from the summit of Puy de Sancy.

We luckily could see a Marmot (French: Marmotte)!

The Marmot was eating something a lot. 

We passed through a group of cattles,

 and crossed the top of mountains.

Episode of "Puy de Sancy" hiking 

Tomo & Chouchou went hiking to Puy de Sancy twice! Puy de Sancy is our favorite hiking place !! Because the hiking trail of Puy de Sancy is very beautiful and enjoyable. We can also see the wild animals there.  It's like a paradise for hikers! 

We chose a hiking course which was on the hiking book of Auvergne.
We drove to the starting point, then we parked. As soon as we went up the stairs of car parking, we could see the beautiful mountains of Massif Central. 

We could see the beautiful landscape, the brook and the green mountains on the hiking trail of Puy de Sancy. If you're lucky, you may see the wild animals.
Tomo & Chouchou could see a Marmot. We could also see a Chamois on the cliff from a distance. We passed through a group of cattles. It's very interesting hiking trail. 

We strongly recommend to hike Puy de Sancy once in your life!
Please hike Puy de Sancy some day !