Hiking

Practical advice and good mountain driving

Before setting off

– Find out about the weather – it changes quickly in the mountains ☀️
– Equip everyone appropriately for the season (quality walking boots, warm waterproof clothing, gloves and hat, sunglasses and sun cream, hat, poles), 🕶️
– In my bag, I put water, a snack and a hiking map or guidebook, 💧
– I tell the people around me about my route. 📞

In the mountains, and especially in the Nature Reserve, it is important to follow certain rules

– I follow the routes without taking shortcuts and I share them with mountain bikers and horse riders (prohibited in the Reserve), 🚲
– I close the accesses to the cattle pens and go around the herds, 🐄
– I do not pick flowers, plants or any protected mineral resources, 🌷
– I do not disturb the local fauna, 🦅
– I don’t camp, make fires or take my rubbish home, ♻️
– I keep my dog on a lead, it is strictly forbidden in the Nature Reserve. 🦮

In the field with the Patous

Pastoralism

In summer, our activities such as hiking and mountain biking go hand in hand with the economic activities of the mountain pastures. The shepherds and their herds come to the mountain huts and meadows to spend the season and look after these large natural areas. To protect their animals, shepherds use protection dogs called “patous”, which are often impressive.

Adopting the right reflexes

On the mountain pastures, you are the patous’ guest!
In the presence of herds and guard dogs, here are a few reflexes to adopt:

– Go well around the herd and keep your distance
– Stop while the patous are identifying you, stay calm, don’t pet them, don’t threaten them: the patous will leave on their own.
– By bike: get off and walk beside your bike
– Your dog must be kept on a lead
– Make sure you always close behind you the paddocks you cross