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Frederick89
28-09-2010, 23:21
My brother, a friend and I went last Sunday on our Mount Cimone - Appennines - in order to observe the population of marmots just before the lethargy.

Here we are at the beginning of the trail: behind us we have the mounts of the near province of Bologna.
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4078/montiversoilbolognese.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/montiversoilbolognese.jpg/)

On the summit of Mount Cimone - at 2165 m - there is a military meteorological observatory. There are also some ski lifts for the joy of the winter tourists, but they don't reach the top of the mount, obviously.
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9183/cimone2165.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/cimone2165.jpg/)

During the ascent we meet a Cranberry prairie with some "guests": some field mushrooms.
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/140/funghiprataiolievaccine.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/i/funghiprataiolievaccine.jpg/)

Soon after - we are at 1785 m - we arrive to a little watershed lake.
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9237/laghetto1785.jpg (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/laghetto1785.jpg/)

After about an hour's walk from the start we reached Pian Cavallaro - we are at 1900 m. On the horizon we can see the mounts of the near provinces of Reggio and Parma.
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3450/piancavallaro1900mcirca.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/piancavallaro1900mcirca.jpg/)

We stop in order to take a picture of these gentians and then we go back to walk.
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2096/genziana.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/genziana.jpg/)

After another half a hour we stop at our observation point, on the north side of the mount. We are between 2000 and 2100 m.
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4765/piancavallaroeversanten.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/piancavallaroeversanten.jpg/)

During the lunch break we receive the visit for which we came here... This marmot was no more than 5 m from us!
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6569/marmottaversoi2100msulm.jpg (http://img245.imageshack.us/i/marmottaversoi2100msulm.jpg/)

The last pic is for my silent friend ;)
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/8828/dsc05717d.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/dsc05717d.jpg/)


Thanks for looking and I hope you liked it.

JonathanD
28-09-2010, 23:33
Excellent piccies. I love marmots.

Barn Owl
28-09-2010, 23:36
Stunning scenery,thanks for that.

Frederick89
28-09-2010, 23:42
Thanks to you.

Shewie
28-09-2010, 23:43
Great pics, great country

Thanks for sharing

iamasmith
28-09-2010, 23:48
Excellent pics ^^ definitely a place to make sure your sweaty boots are safe on your feet at night :)

Robbi
28-09-2010, 23:48
brilliant !!

Frederick89
29-09-2010, 00:07
Thank you guys.

forrestdweller
29-09-2010, 01:51
Excellent piccies. I love marmots.

how do you cook them??? :D

dave53
29-09-2010, 12:27
first time ive seen a marmot thanks for sharing regards dave