First experience of hammock camping and self-supported hike.
For 4 days, we lost contact with civilization and ran into challenges.
I felt connected to nature like never before.
To this day, my most memorable and immersive hiking experience !
Day 0 - Arrival
We arrive at Chichilianne, a village at the foot of the Vercors Highlands, the largest natural reserve in France.
There is nothing man-made in the reserve, except for a few shelters, so we will carry food for 4 days.
Water will be found at water points.
The place is spectacular and adventure awaits !
Day 1 - Climb to the Highlands
800m climb to the Highlands.
When we reach the Highlands, we are greeted by a landscape like nothing I have seen before.
If stoicism was a landscape, it would probably look like this.
Untouched, harsh and serene.
First herd of sheep
As we start looking for a place to camp, we walk into a herd of sheep.
There are no fences, we share the same space. This gives me a strange feeling of being part of this place.
Night 1
This was our first hammock camping night, and it turned out to be a big learning experience.
We found the hard way that sleeping bags don't block the cold from underneath.
On a mattress, it's fine, but in a hammock, the bottom is exposed to the wind.
As we learned later, there is this thing called an underquilt for hammocks.
This night was brutally cold.
For the rest of the trip, we used the emergency blanket from our survival kit.
Day 2 - Grand Veymont
We fill up our water supplies for the day and head to the highest mount of the reserve at 2300m.
We make our way up the steepest, most fun and most scenic climb of the trip, and come back down on the other side.
Carrying 15kg backpacks, the way up was no cake walk, but they way down was even more difficult.
In the descent, I broke one of my hiking sticks.
2nd herd of Sheep
Second evening, second herd of sheep.
We watch them pass by, hoping they wouldn't set their camp next to ours.
After the sheeps left, the place became silent
Night 2
After what happened the first night, we took out our emergency blanket and hoped for the best.
In the middle of the night, I heard steps. Something big.
The steps came close to my hammock and stopped. Time stopped as well.
The night was pitch black, I was afraid to move and make noise.
I heard the animal leave slowly.
Probably a dear.
Times like this reminds me I am a guest in someone else's home.
Day 3 - Balcony
Another full day of hiking ahead.
Today we walk the balcony, a path running along the cliffs, midway between the bottom and the top.
Harmony sets in
By now, I start feeling an unusual connection with nature.
Priorities are reset to the basics: find water, set up camp, eat, contemplate.
I am filled with a sense of clarity and harmony.
Day 4 - Heading back
Last day in the reserve.
The two gas cylinders we use to boil water for our dehydrated meals had run out.
Thankfully, today is light, it should only be 5 or 6 hours to go back to Chichilianne.
The end
This trip was special.
It made me thankful for the comfort we take for granted. Food. Water. Taking a shower. Sleeping in a bed.
I was expecting that a bit.
But what I wasn't expecting is that it made me feel vulnerable and connected to something bigger.
And ultimately, it made me feel alive.
It reminded me how living a simple life can bring fullfillment and peace of mind.
It is easy for me to forget these things, so I tell myself I will come back.
