How ?
But how could such a structure be built at an altitude of more than 3100m??

Fort Chaberton, also called the “Battleship of the Clouds”, was the pride of the Italian military and was then renowned as the tallest and one of the most powerful in the world. Its position was impregnable, putting it beyond the range of most artillery pieces of the time.

An extremely distressing atmosphere which had been accentuated with the accumulation of fatigue from the previous night.

Friends told me about a former military base located at Mont Chaberton, at an altitude of 3131 m.
This is located near Montgenèvre.

It's past 4:00 p.m. on October 11, we're off for a new hike of more than 1200m of positive elevation over 7.5km with a slightly heavier bag (25kg).
Frankly, I was hesitant to go up.
My mind told me “You’re tired, go home” and my heart told me “Go ahead, it’s time, you love it.
You will have the opportunity to sleep a little later." 💪

Not knowing the place, I immediately found it oppressive and harsh.
Seeing these ruins about ten meters high at the edge of the cliff was not very welcoming and distressing. 😨

Luckily, I had hot water, a hamburger, dark chocolate and an apple turnover to make me feel at home (or almost).

But before that, a scouting was necessary.
I recognize that it is not an easy place because it is difficult to access and there is not much back once you reach the summit.
Indeed, if we go back a little too far, we find ourselves at the bottom of the mountain...
In my compositions, I wanted to keep the Milky Way but not easy with the lack of perspective.
In addition, Fort de Chaberton faces north; which does not suit the position of the Milky Way in the sky.

Light pollution was present enough to illuminate the ruins.

The climb was mainly done mentally, I arrived in the dark.

It is in these cases where the mind can take over and where it is imperative to remain calm to limit stress and an accumulation of fatigue.

Fortunately, Monte Viso was not very far away and was watching over me.
We can see it in each of these three photographs.

Photograph taken in the middle of the night with a Sony A7S equipped with a Samyang 35mm f/1.4 lens.

Let's dream,
Jeff