We woke to an overcast sky and the forecast of rain and thunderstorms in are part of the Maritime Alps, so whilst pondering what to do we had breakfast. Shortly after, we gave up on the original plan of starting a multi-day walk and decided on a trip to a high col and back the same way, ensuring that if the weather deteriorated we could just come straight back down. After some more general time-wasting, we began the short drive up to Le Boreon, taking the narrow roads that lead to a large car park.
As we arrived in the car park it started to rain; big, fat rain, the type that soaks you really quickly whilst trying to get waterproofs on – as evidenced by other walkers in the same car park, frantically reaching for their waterproofs, or just getting back into their cars and driving off! We sat in the car hoping the rain would pass, and when it did start to ease off, and with waterproofs on, we left the car and started off up the path. The first part of our route followed a short section of the GR52 through some very picturesque woodland and after about 45 minutes the rain cleared and the sun was out.
We emerged from the trees to arrive on a tarmac road and a short uphill walk to a col. After another short tarmac section on the other side of the col, we left the road and were then back into more forest, on a well marked track over some pretty streams, catching glimpses of mountains through the trees.
After about half an hour the trail struck off uphill and we continued steeply at first and then steadily, climbing through the trees. As we gained height the trees began to thin and we soon arrived at some zig zags which lead to a flatter area of Camp Boubran, a large high cwm. Here there were a series of picturesque small lakes with tall mountain backdrops, which we passed as the trail snaked across the floor of the cwm heading for the col on the ridge.
As we approached the headwall of the cwm, we caught our first glimpses of the second world war era bunkers and defences high up on the col and the surrounding slopes. The trail now became steep with plenty of zig zags, the effort was rewarded by increasingly better views of the surrounding mountains, until we finally arrived at the Col de Fremamorte and a view onto the Italian Maritime Alps.
The view into Italy was fantastic; a series of lakes and mountains as far as you could see. It was quite windy at the col and there was a distinct chill in the air, quite a contrast to the day before. We sat out of the wind and had some food, watching groups of Chamois skit about on the rocks. We examined an old barracks building a little way from the Col and wondered what it would have been like to be stationed up here.
With final looks a the view we began the descent back down the way in which we had come. The weather was distinctly overcast on the return journey, with the occasional spot of rain. We had hardly seen anyone since leaving the car park, so it was a surprise to see large groups walking into the forest, by the size of their rucksacks they were probably going to be out overnight.
We soon arrived back at the car and after Sean had put his feet in the icy stream at the car park, and with the weather clearing up, it was time to go and find some tea and cake at the campsite – another good day in the Maritime Alps.