Thursday 10 September: free hike along the Capanna Chiara circular route in Limone Piemonte with hiking guide Daniele Dalmasso. Meet at 9.00 am at the junction on Via Almellina.

MEETING POINT: 9.00 am, Limone, junction with Via Almellina (you can park nearby).
DIRECTIONS: On arriving in Borgo S. Dalmazzo from Cuneo, head towards Limone Piemonte. Once in Limone, head towards the riding school facilities via Via Almellina; the meeting point is just before the Artisin hotel.
ELEVATION GAIN: approx. +450m / -450m
DISTANCE: approx. 7 km
ROUTE TYPE: circular
TERRAIN: Dirt forest track, dirt path, mule track, small tarmac road, some rocky sections.
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 2.5 hours (without breaks)
SUITABLE FOR: Adults and families (easy)
DIFFICULTY: E

ITINERARY DESCRIPTION – WHAT WE’LL BE DOING:
Capanna Chiara was a mountain hut built in 1953. It owes its name to the daughter of one of the major shareholders of SACIT, the company that built the first cable car facilities in the Cros valley in 1947. For many years, it stood as a symbol of Limone’s modern ski lifts, but it now stands completely abandoned, perhaps awaiting a new lease of life. It is situated on a natural balcony overlooking the village, from which you can admire a beautiful view of the Maritime Alps. We’ll get there via a lovely circular walk, passing along what were once ski slopes, interspersing our steps with evocative readings in the Occitan language! Along the route, at the most picturesque spots, we’ll have the chance to hear the sound of the Alpine Occitan language, in the charming local dialects of the valleys, the ancestral tones of certain musical instruments, and the harmonious interplay of the poetic rhymes of the last local troubadours – and why not, perhaps even sing a song…

RETURN: 1.00 pm (estimated).

REQUIRED CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT: Hiking boots, water, snacks, walking poles (if you usually use them), rain and wind protection, and clothing suitable for the season.

COST: Free (booking required).

The event is organised by the municipality of Vernante and the Chambra d’òc in collaboration with Daniele Dalmasso, a hiking guide and operator of the Occitan Language Helpdesk for the “L.482/99 Networked Bodies” under the municipality of Vernante.

INFO AND BOOKINGS:
Daniele Dalmasso, mobile: 320 9135911; lemons@libero.it (by 1 pm on the day before the excursion)
Places available: (max 15 people)
No packed lunch is provided as this is a morning excursion.

NOTES: The route may be subject to change if necessary, at the guide’s discretion. In the event of unfavourable weather conditions or low numbers of participants, the nature guide reserves the right to cancel or postpone the excursion to a later date.