TALE OF THE TALE OF HIKING TOURS
shoes, clogs and ... Brown
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 9:30 Bussoleno started the hike accompanied by a group of donkeys. Their task was to bring backpacks, but not limited to: animals provided an opportunity for walkers to rediscover forgotten objects and gestures.
Load the saddle is easy only in appearance: the weight must be distributed with precision on both sides with heavy objects on bottom and large top. Walking conducting the animal is not enough: we must always take account of the load footprint above passing through the trees and hugging the walls.
experience to propose a hike in the company of donkeys had already been proposed in September: at that time had visited the Certosa di Banda and Montebenedetto.
Leaving the village of Bussoleno you are going to the south and has entered into a maze of stone walls to enclose farms which cultivate the vine. The poles of the old vineyards are in stone: in fact most of the rocks in the area (schists, mica schist, gneiss) have a characteristic that makes them easily flaked schistosity and easy to work to produce poles or columns.
Going up in the company of our asses then we come to Tignai, village of Bussoleno which is located in a quarry active gneiss occhiadino At one time this rock was often used as building materials and small quarries were active in the municipalities of Mattie, Bussoleno, S. Giorio, Villarfocchiardo, S. Anthony and Vaie low Valle di Susa.
We enter the forest of chestnut, a fundamental component of the landscape and culture of the lower valley of Susa. The original oak forests were in fact changed since the time Roman chestnut forests by virtue of the multiple uses that it could do both in the building that food.
At San Gregorio, we met Robert through which we learned that the spread of the chestnut tree in the Susa Valley is well documented since 1200 thanks mainly to the Carthusian monks at that time they refined the agronomic for the production of land planted with chestnut. In early trade 900 Chestnut was still very developed, since the war comes, however, is in crisis because of the emergence of two diseases (cancer of the cortex and the bad ink) and the gradual abandonment of the mountain. Today we are witnessing Luckily for signs of recovery: damage-related diseases have been limited to studies by the events that led to the spread of hypovirulent strains (a kind of vaccination for the chestnut) and grafting on wild individuals are more resistant. It also sees a growing recognition of the historical value, cultural and tourist chestnut of Susa.
The Manufacturers Association of the Valle di Susa Brown sets himself the task of enhancing the Brown of the Susa Valley Since 2006 the product is recognized by the IGP ( Protected Geographical Indication).
chestnuts were once called "the bread of the poor." In fact, the same chestnut trees that are located throughout the area of \u200b\u200blow mountains, between 300 and 900 meters, for centuries have fed a large portion of the population. To keep the chestnuts were dried. Following could be eaten cooked or ground into flour. From chestnut, as the pig, do not throw (it) away anything: leaves for stables, wood for fire and building furniture, tools, young branches for baskets and baskets. Tannin from the bark to tan leather. Today, the chestnuts are almost a luxury food. We only sell well in the larger brown and shiny with grafts obtained wise and thoughtful care.
After lunch we resumed the journey: the road from San Gregorio Amprimo door of the hut (half day) is still long! I danced past the junction for the climb becomes steeper.
The wind then, that the day before he blew with violence leaves accumulated on the road and some points are difficult to overcome.
seems to swim in the leaves and if it is high for those who is not a problem ... 
... who is youngest as Donkey and Isolde has a problem in more! 
The march, however, continue until you reach the township Gros and a little further upstream the landslide that overlooks the valley.
Ciome From the compact group moves in the direction of the shelter knowing that their little lacking now. From this morning have been made already 900 meters in altitude. Elio cites reports that can be read on old magazines CAI of the century when those who wanted to climb the peaks of the Park Bussoleno had to reach by train at night, be a guide and begin the climb from the valley floor. That's why the shelters of the Park are unusual for our shares in the days when it was easier to achieve great odds to mechanically: it was the staging point for people from the bottom and before reaching the top of the Villano, the glass case or had to overcome a all'Orsiera drop of more than 2000 meters.
An old trail signs indicating the arrival a few minutes, but when you get to shelter the animals that occorrerrà think before us: is it the right way to acknowledge its gratitude towards all the donkeys day we have brought luggage.
Downloads backpacks and undressed by enough of these animals will compile the electric fence in a sheltered from the wind, bringing them to drink buckets of fresh water and you provide the hay.
At 19.30 there is served an excellent meal prepared by Lorenzo and Roberto: the menu, all made with chestnuts and satisfy us fully repays the long haul.
November 11: morning. The group riappresta to go. Reloading the backpacks on enough.
The day is clear and the wind, the night has begun to blow, has weakened his power: all that remains is Mean head for Pra and enjoy the view of the mountains that surround the valley of the Rio Gerardo.
Pra Mean originated is a large plain where once there was a lake of glacial origin, the material transported by the river tributary has subsequently buried the lake.
Gerardo
The Rio is not an obstacle too committed itself to our fellow passengers: just give them a little more rope and let them choose their firmest support. 
The view going up the morainic is breathtaking. 
The ancient village of Combe is today abandoned, the name refers to the position on the relief: the houses are in fact lying on the bottom of a basin. The cabins that make up the many villages encountered in the two days of walking are small buildings, which are essential but not without a certain harmony and proportion. The material used for their construction are stone, wood and lime (locally produced in primitive furnaces). The wood used was always available locally represented by larch, chestnut, fir.
Apart Donkey that has had to overcome yet another test of courage on the way back for the second time fording the river, the day did not present any sort of unexpected. On the way back to the valley floor (other than the day before) met other old villages, now abandoned, is no longer cultivated terraces are crossed that are rapidly populating the forest of plants, has continued to assist the effects of 'abandonment of the mountain.
suddenly swelled up in the sky a cloud of smoke in a fire in the direction of Hill of Windows. Helium starts in contact with his fellow rangers: the fire is not in the park, but Chisone. It must however be very large-as-we think the smoke goes beyond the hill.
the evening news on the writer's search for regional news: a few seconds are spent by the speaker to give notice of widespread fires in Pragelato and above Cumiana Chisone. Then follows a long service in Sestriere: The next international competition, the importance of snowmaking equipment, the ability to compensate for the lack of snow and address the costs to ensure the snow.
Out foeh he continued to blow.
thanks to all the donkeys: Carbonell, Rita, Isolde, Tosca, Gilda, Filiberto and Donkey.
