LLPOT 674 - Hike and Dine in the Alps

Mont Blanc. Gran Paradiso. The Matterhorn. The Dolomites. Some of the world's most beautiful, exciting mountains are found in the Alps, and you don't need to be a climber to enjoy them. We'll first explore the hikes--from gentle to adventurous--that the famous alpine destinations of France's Savoy and Italy's Aosta Valley, Trentino, and Alto Adige (Sud-Tyrol) have to offer. Then we'll take a mouth--watering tour of the cuisine, wine, and don't-miss restaurants of each region. Along the way we will cover the local human and physical geography, culture, and real-world challenges to these mountain eco-systems. Come experience what Europeans know: that pleasure lives in both the burning of calories and their sumptuous replacement. Gian Paolo was raised in the Italian Alps and was a member of the Italian army's mountain special forces, where he trained officers in all aspects of mountain sports. He currently teaches Mountain Environment and Culture for the U's Department of Geography.