Thursday, August 25, 2022

Today's route:

Le Lauzarouotte (2123 m) - Col de la Colombière (2237 m) - St-Dalmas-le-Selvage (1503 m) - Col d‘Anelle (1731 m) - St-Étienne-de-Tinée (1144 m)

Mushroom collectors would be delighted: The area between Bousiéyas and St-Dalmas-le-Selvage is full of mushrooms. Not only could you harvest kilos of them there. Apparently, the French are afraid of mushrooms (?).

And the wolf: Unfortunately, we haven't spoken to any farmers or shepherds yet, but it seems to be a topic. For days, we have been alerted to the correct handling of livestock guardian dogs by means of signs, and right next to our overnight location, a shepherd lives who gathers the sheep in the evening and lets them be guarded closely together by three dogs at night.

We meet the Swiss couple from Spiez again today, as soon as we have descended from the campsite to the hiking trail. They had to take a break because he has problems with his sciatic nerve. In St-Etienne-de-Tinée, we say goodbye to them; they are staying for two nights, so we will hardly see them anymore.

The weather has changed for the next two or three days. The sky is overcast in the evening, and rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday. Let's see how heavy it will be. Nevertheless, we will continue, but maybe stay overnight in a gîte tomorrow evening.

It is not only the flora and fauna that indicate that we are now closer to the Mediterranean. It has become warmer, the mountains are lower, and we haven't seen snow and glaciers for days. (Only the passes we still have to cross are unfortunately still up to 2500 m high.)

As I write this (August 25, 9:30 p.m.), the first raindrops fall on the tent roof.