Wild Gran Paradiso: a day of testing, nature and awareness

In the wild heart of Gran Paradiso

There are places in the Alps where time slows down, and silence takes voice.
The Gran Paradiso National Park in the Aosta Valley is one of them. A high-altitude sanctuary where, on a Saturday in early summer, you can walk for hours without meeting a living soul, accompanied only by the rustling of tall grass and the distant cry of a marmot.

Last Saturday we immersed ourselves in one of its most authentic valleys, climbing up to the Gontier bivouac, at Alpe Nomenon. At our feet, flowering meadows and slabs of stone smoothed by time. Above us, the majestic Grivola , which with its almost 4000 meters reminded us how small man can feel – and immensely alive – in the mountains.

Walking with those who really know the mountains

With us was Mattia Pozzati , Medium Mountain Guide of the Liguria Alpine Guides College and International Mountain Leader UIMLA, and co-founder of By Fair Means .
Having on our team those who make the outdoors their profession is a gift.
It means testing seriously, in authentic contexts, far from artificial lights and glossy speeches.
With us also native friends of the Cogne Valley , who gave us a deeper and more intimate look at the nature and culture of the place. A rare privilege.

On the trail of change

The air, even above 2,500 meters, was unusually warm.
We took off our heavy layers, looked into each other's eyes. And we understood, once again, that climate change at high altitude is not a hypothesis. It is a fact.
Glaciers are retreating. They leave behind water, debris, and a sense of urgency.

The mountain speaks, if you listen to it

During this period, wildlife censuses begin in the Park.
A silent but fundamental ritual to understand how chamois, ibex and other alpine species are reacting to these new balances.
Counting animals is not just a scientific act. It is an act of love.
It means listening to the mountain, which speaks to those who want to listen.

Real tests. Real clothes. Informed choices.

During the excursion we tested some technical garments available in our shop.
We chose them for comfort, traceability, sustainability and style .
But we took them to high altitudes to see if they can really stand up to the pace, the sweat, the sudden wind.
We live them before proposing them.
They are not just “technical products”. They are travel companions , for those who live nature with respect and awareness.

Credibility > Margin

We know we could earn more by choosing well-known brands.
But we prefer independent brands, often little known in Italy, but capable of creating real value.
We're not just interested in performance.
We care about credibility .
The one that is built step by step, bivouac after bivouac, with those who share our vision of an authentic and sustainable outdoor.