Snowshoes in Aosta Valley

The chance of walking in complete safety in winter is an opportunity not to miss. Snow shoes, known as ciaspole, allow us to walk on snow covered territories in an easy way. Once the basic techniques have been mastered good fun is guaranteed.

Winter is a wonderful season in Valle d’Aosta at the foot of the Giants of the Alps (Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Gran Paradiso), where, thanks to the snow, everything becomes secret and hidden. Animals that choose not to go into hibernation must face a difficult period. Discovering their characteristics and how they adapt to this period makes our day magical. The woods we walk through are populated by hundreds of birds like the Alpine tit, crested tit, tree creeper and crossbill (a colourful bird with a characteristic crossed beak, useful for extracting seeds from larch pines). The crossbill is the only bird able to nest in winter, thanks to the abundance of larch pine cones that provide an important food. This fact makes us reflect on the fact that in nature everything is connected to the availability of food.

The climb will take us to one of the easiest passes that we can reach with snowshoes and then stop to eat our well-earned packed lunch while admiring a unique view.  On our descent we will pass a century old larch tree that will impress us with its majesty.

After a wonderful day in the mountains, what could be better, for who wants to try, than a speedy descent down the slopes accompanied by a soft cloak of snow.