 | Gran Paradiso National ParkPicture Gallery |  |
 On the way from Lago de Loie to refugio Miserin. enlarge |  The long traverse from Rifugio Vittorio Sella to Hermetet. enlarge |
 Looking back towards San Lorenzo on the way up to Refugio Pocchiola Meneghello. |  Rifugio Pocchiola Meneghello, by Lago Valsoera is one of the remotest refugios - it has no guardian but is fully equipped. |
 Snow plateau before final slopes to the summit rocks. enlarge |  Colle della Porta after a freak summer snow-storm. enlarge |
 Winter at Refugio Pontese enlarge |  Ski tour in upper Teleccio Valley. From here it is possible to ski via the Bivacco Ivrea to Vittorio Emanuele hut and hence ascend Gran Paradiso. enlarge |
 Three course meals are the norm in refuges, wine is provided as part of the meal in some of them enlarge |  Lago Balma in Valsoera valley provides a welcome swim on a sunny day. |
 Colle dei Becchi is easiest crossed with some old snow around - otherwise it can involve a working your way amongst a jumble of boulders. Beyond the col lies the stunning expanse of ‘Little Tibet" with its herds of ibex and chamois. |  The descent to Pontese is made safer in exposed places with chains. |
 Valsoera Pass provides beautiful views of the neighbouring valleys and their blue lakes and glaciated summits. |  The Alta Via Canavese passes through several abandoned farmsteads and hamlets - this one is located at Potes high up above the village of Noasca. enlarge |
 The Mount Avic Natural Park is a little visited area of outstanding natural beauty that is being expanded alongside the Gran Paradiso National Park. |  The Mount Avic Park is particularly known for its string of beautiful and varied lakes. |
 Aosta - part of old Roman city walls. enlarge |  Gran Paradiso summit from Little Tibet to the south. enlarge |
 Refugio Federico Chabod provides a slightly quieter base for the ascent of Gran Paradiso, the route follows a moraine ridge then easy glaciated slopes to the final rocky pinnacles. |  Madonna on the summit of Gran Paradiso. enlarge |
 Early morning and the Albergo degli Amici in San Lorenzo. Early starts avoid the day time heat in the lower valleys. photo |  The Neyron ridge crossing offers a final look at Gran Paradiso and a view of Mont Blanc to the north. |
 The descent from the Neyron ridge is protected by chains and is possibly technically the most difficult section of the whole trek. |  The final section of the ascent leaves the glacier and a short scramble over ledges leads to the summit pinnacle. A narrow exposed ledge can be protected by a rope and you are there! enlarge |
 The rare ibex, locally called stambecco, were almost hunted to extinction but are now found in tens of thousands. Mont Blanc is in the background. enlarge |  Chamois, locally called camoscio, - these amazingly agile and shy creatures are found throughout the Alps but rarely in such numbers as here in the Paradiso National Park. On many days you can see more chamois and ibex than people. enlarge |
 A big thank you to Vittorio Emanuele II - without him the park may not have been so well-preserved as regards wildlife and not as well developed from the point of view of access. His ‘Alte Vie‘ (high routes) and ‘Strade Real‘ (royal roads) are a delight to walk along gently wending their way through the most dramatic country side. enlarge |  The Colle Lauson is the highest pass on our route. An excellent path leads all the way from the village of Eaux Rousse to Valnontay crossing the pass and then passing by the popular Refugio Vittorio Sella. enlarge |
