The day before the start of autumn, I had set as my goal to hike to the summit of Puget mountain. I wanted to get closer up there where the so-called Needle peak was. The weather forecast mentioned rain. I looked at the sky and said .. it won’t.

The path on Puget mountain was much steeper than the other Calanques tracks I know. This one lead me through a more quiet and pristine area. When I came close to a ridge, the sudden sound of a fleeing flock of partridges took me by surprise. One bird had the courage to wait and see who I was. The curiosity was mutual.

The beauty of hiking on this high ground was more picturesque views. Almost all of the walk was uphill while the path became very narrow but not impossible, giving unexpected sea views and promising sights of the Needle. I had never been this high in the Calanques as it takes more effort and the right weather.

The closer I came to the summit the more fascinating the scenery. The soil was moist. The vegetation was rich. It felt like having entered a self-contained microclimate. Reaching the end of the path, I took it all in. It was a place that felt pure.

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