The thing about mountains

Mountains are great. They're beautiful and have so much recreational potential- everyone loves them. But my most recent appreciation for them has come from my first month here in Grenoble, France. Grenoble is the city most often associated with the French Alps, and for good reason. It's surrounded by three chains that look distinctly different: Chartreuse to the north, Belledonne to the east, and Vercors to the west. Thanks to these fantastic three, I have been able to instantly orient myself. After a few hours of figuring out the geography, I ended up ditching my map. Instead of looking down at a map like a lost tourist, I set my sights on the horizon. As long as you memorize the mountains here, you can never be lost.

Standing on Chartreuse, Belledonne to the left and Vercors to the right: taken from La Bastille.

The distinct peaks of Chartreuse: photo by Timothy Marion