The language used to describe the Vallée des Belleville—”saw-toothed peaks,” “shocking green flanks,” “great folds of these hills”—is not just poetic; it’s a precise and evocative guide to understanding the character of this alpine landscape. Learning to read these visual cues is part of the joy of hiking here.
“Saw-toothed peaks” immediately conveys a sense of jagged, formidable mountains. This is not a landscape of gentle, rolling hills but one of sharp, aggressive geology, likely carved by glaciers. This tells a hiker to expect dramatic vistas and challenging, steep terrain on trails like the Grand Tour de Tarentaise.
The phrase “shocking green flanks” paints a picture of vibrant, lush life clinging to these steep slopes. It speaks of the intensity of the short summer season, where high pastures are rich with vegetation. This visual clue suggests areas of pastoralism, where shepherds might be grazing their flocks.
In contrast, “great folds of these hills” describes a different kind of topography. It suggests a softer, more complex landscape of hidden valleys and rolling contours where shepherds and their flocks can easily disappear from view. Learning to decode this language transforms a hiker from a mere tourist into a more engaged and knowledgeable observer of the alpine world.