From Bousson to the Black Lake – Italy

by Olegs Belousovs • • Gallery in –

For me and my older sister is a tradition, once a year, to climb the mountain to the Black Lake, starting our walk from Bousson. At the refuge above they make a good venison sausage and polenta, as well as serving a good Punsch liquor. Walking time is about 3 hours on the snow, in seasons without snow it’s more quickly. Nice and Easy/Intermediate hike you can do in every time of the year.

A skier with his dog are coming down from the Black Lake

We have only begun to go up and there are those who already goes down, even on fours. Who knows if we’ll also go down on all fours 🙂

View of the Sestriere hill and hotel tower from the Cesana valley

The valley of Cesana with snow-covered mountains and trees

The higher you climb, the more you start to see Sestriere and its towers which are hotels.

Snow-covered road and trees with signs

There are many trees with various signs of the various paths, which serve for better orientation and for not get lost.

A pine cone on a tree of the winter forest

Signs painted on the mountain trees for orientation

Going up I met different kinds of trees and cones of various shapes and sizes.

Trails in the snow left by skiers

Many skiers go up to the Black Lake and then do the downhill off-piste. Skiers leave the trails in the fresh snow that look like real paintings.

The snow-covered road to the Black Lake and the sign with snow hat

A plane check from the mountain leaving contrails

Going up you get closer and closer to the sky and even the planes that pass now seems to be closer to you.

Walking uphill to the Black Lake on the snow-covered road

If there were no snowmobiles paving the way you’d need the snowshoes to climb.

A refuge in the Alps on the way to the Black Lake

The refuge of the “Capanna Mautino” between two trees

Finally we are beginning to see some refugees, we are already hungry and we need to rest and recharge our energies.

View of the Alps from the window of the refuge on the Black Lake

Have lunch and warm up at the refuge with these views is really a very wonderful experience (preferably in the company of friends or your loved ones).

The view of the hill and the city of Sestriere from Bousson

The gypsum quarries and Mount Seguret

These other views become showcased on the way to the Black Lake.

A glass with Punsch liquor on the table of the refuge

Here are just in time for a good Punsch after lunch and ready to go, but be careful not to overdo it with shorts, which go down smooth. Remember about going down on all fours?

A little house in the mountains near the Black Lake

Fisheye view of the valley of Cesana

Other great mountain views of the valley during the descent…

Imprint in the snow left by an angel

…and certainly some inevitable side effects of Punsch 🙂

I know, you thought: “but where’s the Black Lake? It’s all white on your pictures.” Unfortunately, the lake is completely frozen and covered by snow during the winter, to see it you would be going there in the warm seasons.

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