Can you get over your Fear of heights?
Le Cheval Blanc mountain (3020m, Massif du Thabor)
In Modane, it's pouring heavily, water relentlessly beats against our skylights, so it's a good time to write a bit.
October has passed too quickly. When we planned to spend the autumn in the Alps, we decided to leave before the snow and snow chain times, so we have only one week left in Modane.
Although a month is a very short time, I had also managed to book an urbex road trip with two of my friends to Italy last week. We had planned it earlier, and although Italy's abandoned places are great, I've already visited many of them, so the photo opportunities in the Alps were more appealing. The trip was still very successful, and I got to visit an abandoned mansion I had been missing, as I didn't capture detailed photos on my first visit, which I later regretted.
Our time in the mountains has exceeded our expectations, and next autumn, we plan to spend much more time in the Alps. There are endless photography opportunities here, and we haven't even had a chance to explore everything interesting in the immediate vicinity. Perhaps next autumn, we'll book accommodation in the Mont Blanc area and explore its nature and landscapes.
However, a month has been enough for me to overcome my fear of heights to some extent. It's by no means gone, but it has significantly improved. For photography, it's essential that it continues to improve, as even more incredibly picturesque locations will then be accessible to me.
Last night, we visited the Saint Benoit waterfall, which is about 10 km from Modane. As we drove there, we thought we'd quickly take a look and then continue to another hiking trail whose starting point we spotted a week ago when returning from Italy over the Alps. But the waterfall and its surroundings were truly impressive. I took photos there for a long time, and I plan to visit it again next week because by then, I'll have a better idea of what and how I want to capture there. I'm almost certain I'll get a new image for my gallery Taiko, where my artwork is for sale. In the gallery, there's a selfie with the waterfall in the background, and also a close-up of the mountainside and flowing water.
Next, here are more landscapes and places that have made a special impression on me:
The Mont Thabor area. The main photo is of Le Cheval Blanc mountain from that area, and the first four pictures in the gallery are from that region and the trail leading there. We hiked to Lake Rond, which is a mountain lake located in the Mont Thabor area. The hike took longer than expected, so we made up for the energy deficit from the mountain hut’s sugar storage, luckily fresh water was easily found in the alpine streams. Next weekend, we'll head to that area again, going a bit further to Lac Vert, a green and clear lake adorned with fallen tree trunks on the lakebed. I have high expectations for photography and video here.
Mont-Cenis Lake, surrounded by mountains on all sides, is located at an altitude of 1974 meters and is truly picturesque. If you choose the driving route from Lyon to Turin over the Alps, the lake is along the way. The sight was breathtaking when we arrived there last Saturday, and the sun illuminated the slopes, and the lake shone in shades of turquoise, photo below..
Lake of the Mont-Cenis in 1974m altitude.
The small, exceptionally beautiful village of Bonneval-sur-Arc is located along the Arc River, just like Modane, and it's about 50 km away. The village is incredibly charming (there's a picture in the gallery of the village church tower), and every building is made of stone from top to bottom. The place was quiet, at least during the off-season; we didn't find any open restaurants, but we were on the move fairly early, and perhaps it would have worked later in the evening. The Modane to Bonneval-Sur-Arc route also includes a glacier, from which I captured the last picture in the gallery.
Now the rain has stopped, so it's time for me to head out again and take some photos to get the most out of the last week. On Saturday 28.10. we head towards Brittany and the seaside. Our next home is also a small village, Plougoulm, I have a feeling that I am going to miss the mountains..
