This page is an update of the one published in 2007. All images have been reprocessed from the original raw files, the thumbnail size was increased from 210x140 to 840x560 (displayer as 420x280), and the large photos from 900x600 to 2,400x1,600. Except for this paragraph, the text remains the same.
On January 28, 2007, a magnificent winter Sunday, I went on a hike through the "Massif de l'Esterel", a coastal mountain range right around the corner from where we live. The hike began at the Col de Belle Barbe and involved just over six hours of trekking up and down countless ravines, gulches, and gullies, as well as climbing up to the summit of the Pic de l'Ours, or Bear's Peak. The journey yielded a large batch of photographs, some of which are displayed on this page. Clicking on the above map will open a larger version in a separate window. It is also possible to download a zipped PDF version which can then be printed (the file is zipped to make sure it gets downloaded and not just displayed in a browser window). Either way, those interested in following the hike on the map can easily do so.
On the map, the itinerary is depicted as a highlighter-like yellow line. There are only two ambiguous parts: the first one is where the line splits, just north of the Lac de l'Ecureuil (Squirrel Lake). There, I took the left branch while heading out. The second ambiguity is at the Col Notre Dame. where I took the direct line to the summit of the Pic de l'Ours and the somewhat longer, winding road on the way down. Once back at the Col Notre Dame, I took the path that goes off to the southwest. From the Lac de l'Ecureuil on, the way back to the car is the same as the outbound journey. The images below are arranged in chronological order, so it should be easy to find the landmarks they refer to on the map.
On the other hand, it's not necessary to bother with the map at all; the pictures should convey a good enough impression of this place, and hopefully, they may even convince some visitors to explore this wonderful area on their own; it is definitely worth it. Happy trails!
Click on any of the small images below to see a larger version!
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Starting out at the Col Belle Barbe |
Heading towards the Ravin de Grenouillet |
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At the bottom |
First ray of morning sun in the ravine |
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In the Ravin du Mal Infernet |
Little rivers like this abound |
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Leaving the ravine |
Near the Ravin de l'Ecureuil |
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Quiet river |
Lac de l'Ecureuil: Looking north |
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Walking along the lake |
At the norhern end of the lake |
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Lac de l'Ecureuil: Looking south |
Leaving the lake behind |
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Towards the Couche de l'Âne |
Climbing up the Couche de l'Âne |
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Looking to the east... |
...and continuing to climb. |
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Near the Col des Replats |
View from the Col de la Cadière |
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On the way to the Col Notre Dame |
View from the Col Notre Dame |
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La dent de l'Ours: The Bear's Tooth |
Climbing up to the Pic de l'Ours |
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View from the Pic de l'Ours towards the Cap d'Antibes |
Pic de l'Ours: the summit (closed to visitors) |
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Looking towards the Îles de Lérins: St. Honorat and Ste. Marguerite |
Looking down to the Trayas train station |
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Picking up trail GR 51 to head down |
Looking west... |
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...while descending towards the lake. |
Still on trail GR 51 |
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Near the Ravin de l'Ecureuil |
Towards the Ravin du Mal Infernet |
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In the Ravin du Mal Infernet |
Tiny cascade |
These photographs were all taken on January 28, 2007; they are also available in a web gallery.
Among other things, the gallery allows viewing the photos as a slide show. Check it out!
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