Aug/Sept 2023 Central French Alps, GR5

Three Vigorous Hikers/Alum, Rick, Roger (now in Chicago), and Bob, were joined by five friends (all veterans of previous Vigorous Hikers treks), Bernie (Wales), Jeff (Tacoma WA), his daughter Kylie (DC area), Lynn (Vancouver BC), and Peter (DC area), for a long trek through the central French Alps. The group covered 123 miles of the Grande Randonnee 5 (GR5): From Modane, deep in the central French Alps. south to Auron, a ski resort near the source of the Tinee River (which flows south to Nice). The trip took 15 days (including a rest day in Briancon), and averaged 2600’ of ascent each hiking day. The trek was the second 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 northern GR5 leg); the group climbed to 13 passes and (most) two peaks, reaching over 8000’ nine times and 9000’ once. The latter occurred on the side trip to the Batterie on Tete de Viraysse from the Col de Mallemort.