Mont Sainte-Victoire

Mont Sainte-Victoire was one of Paul Cézanne's favorite motifs. I tried climbing it a couple of times while I was in Aix, but never did quite make it to the top. The hike was fun and the view was gorgeous, but the high winds and slippery rocks, combined with my lack of equipment and a partner, conspired to keep me from getting all the way to the summit.

Première Fois: samedi, 8 juillet

• I begin to climb the hills some distance away from the mountain.
• A four-picture panorama from the top of the ridge.
• I crossed over an aqueduct en route to the mountain.
• The ruins of an old farmhouse.
• The red soil on the way there was breathtaking.
• The main massif is at the end of this path.
• A lovely view of the mountain beyond hills of red and green.
• Another similar view, a little further down the road.
• Olive orchards dotted the hills around Mt. Ste.-Victoire.
• A 360-degree panorama of the point where I stopped the first time.
• Just me and the mountain.
• A close-up of the massif.
• A view of the hills....
• ...And of the valley below.
• The trip down had some pleasant scenery.
• I stopped to look at some sunflowers on my walk back to Aix.
• More scenery on the way back.

Beaurecueil

• The motif for my first painting of the mountain.
• ...And for my second, with the painting itself included.

Seconde Sortie: vendredi, 14 juillet

• The mountain from a distance. (This was en route to my second attempt.)
• A four-photo panorama of the view from (almost) the top.
• I was so close!
• ...Then again, it was a long way down.
• A shallow cave provided some shelter from the wind.