Aug/Sept 2022 Northern French Alps, GR5

Three Vigorous Hikers/Alum, Rick, Roger (now in Chicago), and Bob, were joined by three friends (all veterans of previous Vigorous Hikers treks), Bernie (Wales), Lynn (Vancouver, BC), and Peter (DC area), for a long trek through the northern French Alps.  The group covered 130 miles of the Grande Randonnee 5 (GR5):  From St. Gingolph (straddling the French/Swiss border) on the south shore of Lac Leman (aka Lake Geneva), south to Modane, deep in the central French Alps.  The trip took 16 or 17 days (including a rest day in Chamonix), and averaged 2700’ or 2600’ of ascent each hiking day respectively. The trek was the first of three planned legs to complete the entire GR5 all the way to its terminus on the Mediterranean.  The way was spectacular and demanding (but not as much as the GR10 in 2021); the group climbed to 16 passes and one peak, reaching over 8000’ six times and 9000’ twice.  The latter occurred using the high-level GR55 variant from Val Claret to Modane in Vanoise National Park.

Pictures by Bernie, Bob, Lynn and Roger - Bob produced the report.

Pictures at photos.app.goo.gl/dAvz2CVitp5uCNwZA