Walking in the footsteps of the Dinosaurs
On the promise of dinosaur foot prints, we packed our rucksacks for a 12.5km picnic walk starting off from the Emosson dam above the Trient valley. After lots and lots of hairpin roads the kids were thrilled to find a zip wire (and ice cream shop) at the top. Stretching all the way across the front of the dam. Only two of our group were brave enough. The younger two of course.
Once we'd got that (and two ice creams) out of the way we set off to find the footprints. Walking around the track alongside the vast expanse of turquoise water. (Apparently 225 million m3!).
Following the track up to the Dam of Barberine. It was hot and the cold drinks looked far too appealing. We stopped for a cool down and a rest.
Feeling refreshed we set off again, walking up leaving the refuge behind us. Up, and up... the landscape looked more and more lunar. Basil trotting ahead would stop and wait for us to catch up... as we huffed and puffed our way.
Finally over the hill, we looked down onto a grassy area, the path continuing toward the promise of dinosaur footprints. As we walked we caught site of a marmot or two. Popping up and whistling, warning its friends we were on our way. Can you spot it in the photo below?
At last we reached the promised footprints with lots of fascinating information. It was easy to imagine dinosaurs living in the landscape.
Having reached the footprints, it was time for a picnic. The grass looked soft and being down there would get us closer to the marmots.
Basil didn't notice any marmot action, he was too busy keeping his eye on the cheese!
PACMAT Pointy marks the spot.
After a good rest (snooze for some), feeding and a few games (I had the PACMAT Chessboard with me). We walked on up to the cairn. An obligatory photo stop!
The clouds were starting to form. We had quite a long way to go back to the first dam, so we picked up the pace a little. The heat had dropped from the day time sun and it was now very pleasant warm sunshine, at least, while we were still high. A few wild campers had obviously seen the weather forecast and we could see them setting up their tents on the other side of the hill. It was a wonderful evening.
We carried on down, reaching a small section of rotten snow. Basil was totally excited by this. We weren't so thrilled on tired legs and slippy trainers. Sharing our walking poles we cautiously edged our way across while Basil danced rings around us.
As we made our way down, we walked alongside a river, navigating through a landscape of large boulders that we had to climb over and around. The clouds were coming down and daylight fading. The path was getting more and more sketchy when one of the kids pointed out we'd miss the turning about fifteen minutes back. So back we plodded, finding the path much to our relief.
We could almost see the reservoir, through thickening clouds. It was no longer sparkling turquoise but inky black. Night had fallen. Bats flying around our heads and our voices echoed over the water. The atmosphere was quite earie and exciting.
We arrived back at the cars, the only cars left in the car park and set off down the hairpin road, exhausted. But what a good day out.
Products used on this day out: