Festival de l’Outdoor et de la Rando : 18 au 21 septembre 2025

Organisée par Provence Alpes Agglomération en partenariat avec l’Office de Tourisme et le comité FFRandonnée Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, le Festival de l’Outdoor et de la Rando se déroulera pour la première fois sur 4 jours à Dignes. Cet événement s’adresse à tous les publics dans le but de promouvoir la richesse des activités de nature de la région.

Du 18 au 21 septembre 2025 la 21ème édition du Festival de l’Outdoor et de la Rando vous accueille autour d’un programme riche en activités.

– Treks de 2 et 3 jours

– Sorties journées : Rando, Trail, Parapente, VTT, Vélo de route, Gravel, Escalade, Via ferrata, Canoë, Kayak, Aviron, Paddle, Voile, Slackline…

– Village Outdoor au plan d’eau de Digne les Bains avec des animations gratuites pour les familles tout le week-end

– Concerts, spectacles et projections de film en soirée

– 4 lieux de départs : Digne-les-Bains, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Château-Arnoux et Seyne les Alpes.

Pour plus de détails je vous invite à découvrir le programme complet sur ce lien.

#18Au21Septembre2025 #21èmeédition #événement #comitéFfrandonnéeProvenceAlpesCoteDAzur #concerts #dignes #dignesLesBains #festivalDeLOutdoorEtDeLaRando #manifestation #Partenaires #programmeComplet #provenceAlpes #provenceAlpesAgglomération #sortiesJournées #treks

Hiking to the first fire lookout in the Rockies

Devil’s Head as seen from Castle Rock, Colorado

In 1912, the very first fire lookout in the Rocky Mountains began operation atop 9,748 foot tall Devil’s Head located west of Castle Rock, Colorado. Today, 113 plus years later, a fire lookout structure (built in 1951) still graces its stony summit, as the lookout’s cabin residence sits astride the trail at the base of the winding metal stairway that rises to the majestic apex.

Devil’s Head Fire Lookout

As peak climbers, certain mountains exude an extra touch of charisma than others. It may be the vista, the trail, the scenery, the challenge, the height, the history, or some indescribable other factor. Well, to this avid peak climber, Devil’s Head possesses all of the above factors and then some.

The exhilaration one feels upon reaching the summit of this impressive and tallest Rampart Range mountain (a subrange of the Rocky Mountains) is truly palpable. Its zenith in altitude is only challenged by the fulfilling accomplishment and personal pride. Meanwhile, the sheer awe of the surroundings, the overarching skies, and the distant horizons boosts ones endorphins into an intoxicating overdrive. Perhaps, this is why the informational signs along the route up from the trailhead offer a series of inspired poems as motivation to complete this hike.

Pikes Peak in the distance

Throughout such hikes, I often feel at one with the mountain…but only as a guest who has been allowed to trek and observe the varied terrain, not as a permanent resident. That is only reserved for the flora and fauna who know this mountain as their home. Scurrying chipmunks and squirrels, melodic nuthatches and chickadees, wafting butterflies, silent leafy and piney sentinels, weathered geological wonders, and delicate floral arrangements are among its most visible August citizens.

Only 143 steps – yikes!

Devil’s Head does not offer up its ultimate ascent easily. One must scale a series of 143 stair steps affixed to the rugged rock pinnacle. Not for the fainthearted, each step upward paints a separate image of the eons of weathered history that has taken place on Devil’s Head and that we humans are but a brief chapter in its storied narrative.

Oh…but to be just a momentary blip in this mountain’s timeless epochs is an honor I will always prize. Peace!

——-

p.s. Devil’s Head in Colorado is one clear example of why we must ardently defend the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, and related agencies for the great, good work they do in preserving and protecting our nation’s scenic natural wonders.

Summit celebration!

#adventure #Colorado #DevilSHead #environment #fireLookouts #fun #geography #hiking #history #landUse #lookouts #mountains #nature #trails #travel #treks

America’s newest high-altitude thru-hike: Santa Fe to Taos

Presentation at Travel Bug in Santa Fe

Its not often you have the opportunity to enjoy something completely new in the world of hiking and high-altitude adventure, but that is just the case now in New Mexico. On Saturday evening (May 31) we attended a presentation and guidebook signing at Travel Bug Books for America’s newest high altitude trek: The Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike.

Nambe Lake: Source: reddit.com

This 132 mile long trek takes you from Santa Fe Plaza in the heart of this lovely capital city, high up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to well over 11,000 feet, and eventually back down to the gorgeous city of Taos and its historic plaza.

Source: santafetotaos.org

Conceived, organized, trekked, and established over a ten-year period by avid hiker Pam Neely, this thru-hike will take you through some of the most stunning scenery in New Mexico. This includes: Santa Fe Ski Basin, Trailriders Wall, the Pecos Wilderness, Santa Barbara Divide, El Nogal, two national forests, and numerous streams and alpine lakes including Baldy and Nambe (see photos).

Trailriders Wall – Source: summitpost.org

The new pocket-sized guidebook is an excellent resource for those planing to hike straight through or planning to tackle the trek in pieces and parts. She also a series of six 11″ x 17″ maps available depicting segments of the route landing from 18.7 to 26.2 miles in length. The guidebook and maps identify key points along the trail, other connecting trails, suggested camping places, points of access to water sources, and a variety of other useful information.

Pecos Baldy Lake – Source: reddit.com

Here are some non-amazon places to order the guidebook:

• https://santafetotaos.org/shop/
• Travel Bug Specialty Books in Santa Fe: 505-992-0418 or via
• https://bookshop.org/shop/TravelBug
• Collected Works in Santa Fe: 505-988-4226 or via https://bookshop.org/shop/collectedworks

One may start at 7,000 feet at either end of this thru-hike, but in-between are a series of climbs and descents that truly define this storied and enchanted landscape. Whether you hike the entire 132 mile length or simply small day-hike segments, the Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike will stir your senses to the rugged and serene beauty of New Mexico. Peace!

Santa Barbara Divide – Source: pinterest.com

#books #environment #fun #geography #hiking #history #NewMexico #SangreDeCrstoMountains #SantaFe #Taos #thruHikes #topography #TrailridersWall #travel #treks

Capturing the play of light. A masterpiece that is nature, always mesmerised me. I will say it again and again. Cameras can never capture what these eyes have seen.

#nature #Himalayas #uttarakhand #india #photography #treks

Ben Nevis Mountain Path, Fort William, Scotland.

#scotland #scottishhighlands #mountains #nature #photography #hiking #treks #trekking #hike #fortwilliam #uk

Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe near Ben Nevis. Absolute treat.

#scotland #scottishhighlands #mountains #nature #photography #hiking #treks #trekking #hike #fortwilliam #uk

Mandatory pose on all my treks 🏔️
#treks #mountains #bennevis #uk #scotland #highlands #scottishhighlands #mountaineering #hike #britain

Climbed Ben Nevis - the UK’s highest mountain 🏔️

#trek #treks #mountains #bennevis #scotland #highlands #scottishhighlands #uk #britain #hikes #hike #trekker #mountaineering #mountaineer #nature #workout