Gran Paradiso Is a Fantastic, Little Known, Parei, the Ciaroforon, the Herbetet and the 2016 and As Yet Quite Unspoiled Italian National Park
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unparalleled perspectives over the valleys below. Relatively few foreigners venture into GRAN TOUR DESCRIPTION these parts and the culture is distinctively Italian and very relaxed, although French is PARADISO widely spoken. The wild and remote valleys of This information is additional to our General the Valsavarenche, Val di Rhemes, Information Booklet, which is enclosed. Valgrisenche, and Valle di Cogne are dotted with small but cosy villages where culinary and Please note this is not a supported trek and linguistic traditions are maintained alongside you will have to carry your own equipment modern developments. The cols in between TOUR CODE: 24400 with you. GRADE: C+ HUTTING these places have truly breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks, such as the Granta Italian Mountain Heaven The Gran Paradiso is a fantastic, little known, Parei, the Ciaroforon, the Herbetet and the 2016 and as yet quite unspoiled Italian national park. Gran Paradiso itself, together with their Ibex on the dizzying cols, chamois in the empty tumbling glaciers. It may be possible to climb valleys and ambling marmots are a common various peaks from these cols, for example the sight. Eagles and lammergeier also frequent Torre Ponton (3101m), the Punta Basei these parts and edelweiss and vanilla orchids (3338m) and the Becca del Traversière along the paths are not uncommon. Our 30 Jun - 10 July (3337m) from which Mont Blanc, the itinerary is not marred by ski development but 28 July - 07 August Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Castor and Pollux are the valleys are easily accessible by bus from visible. This fabulous part of the autonomous the main Aosta valley to the north. The park, region of Aosta will be our playground for this adjacent to the Vanoise to the south-west, was 11 days superb new tour. created as a hunting ground for King Vittorio Emanuele and has as a result, for the most Our flight times and the use of a local coach part, good quality tracks at very high levels. company mean that we can spend our first and last nights in mountain huts. When we do stay We start in the Mont Avic National Park to the in the valley it is in the remote hamlet of Bien in east, and move quickly west into the Gran the Valsavarenche, so small it doesn’t show up Paradiso Park itself and stay mostly in multi- on most maps. bedded rooms in high mountain rifugi such as the 'Peradza', the 'Benevolo', the 'Bezzi' and Words cannot do this tour justice – for some the 'Chabod'. The latter is one of the huts from spectacular photos of the scenery through which the Gran Paradiso itself is climbed - which you will be walking consult the individual quieter than the larger V. Emanuele hut not far hutting websites listed below. away - and whilst there are fabulous views of . this 4,061m glaciated peak from the hut itself, we will not be climbing it! We will however be going over a number of spectacular and vertiginous 3,000m+ passes which give ITINERARY Overnight Day: Daily itinerary: accommodation: Rifugio Dondena Depart London Gatwick on British Airways flight to Turin. On arrival in Turin our hired minibus takes us north 1: towards the Alps, then up west into the mountains of the Valle di Champorcher and the Parco Nazionale di Mont 2200m Avic. The last leg of the 2 hour journey is along a dirt road, bringing us up to a parking area from where it’s an easy 15 minute walk to the rifugio. Hotel Ondezana Our route today takes us west, via the Lago di Miserin and its little church, over the Finestra di Champorcher, then Lillaz, Cogne down into the Vallon di Urtier. We continue down the valley into the woods, past the hamlet of Gollies and on down 2: to Lillaz. 2828m 670m↑ / 1260m↓; 15 km (9.3 miles); 6 hours We continue from Lillaz the short distance into bustling Cogne, a small holiday town famous for its winter ice Rifugio Vittorio climbing and the largest on the whole tour. We then ascend through woods again towards the Vittorio Sella which Sella 3: we do not see until we are almost upon it. Here we begin to see the glaciated scenery which will be a feature of walks in days to come. 2584m 1050m↑ / 9km (6 miles); 3 hours Rifugio Vittorio Sella There is a great deal of scenery to be enjoyed in this glaciated area. Weather and conditions permitting, possible 4: walks include the exposed Casolari dell’Herbetet traverse which can be extended to the Bivacco Leonessa at 2584m 2910m. The initially gentle approach to the Col Lauson is in a nevertheless wild and remote area which may well be carpeted with flowers, Edelweiss and gentian are common in the whole of this area and ibex and noisy marmots Camping Hotel frequent the upper reaches. The approach becomes steadily looser and more exposed and care will be needed Grivola, Bien 5: over the col itself, whatever the conditions. From a little way down the other side of the col, we may get a first glimpse of the peak of the elusive Gran Paradiso itself. After the initial steep and loose descent, the path winds 1635m down in spaghetti loops towards the Valsavarenche, a very long way below, and a little civilisation. 710m↑ / 1660m↓; 17km (10.6 miles); 6¼ hours We take an early bus, to cut out a little bit of road walking, up the Valsavarenche to the turn-off up towards the Rifugio Chabod Rifugio Chabod at Pravieux. There follows an easy half day on a well-made and well-graded path with ever 6: improving views of the Gran Paradiso massif and its glaciers. More flowers and chamois abound here. Conditions 2750m permitting, the afternoon can be used to walk to the Colle Gran Neyron (3295m), though this is not an easy route. 895m↑ / minimal↓; 2km (1.2 miles); 2½ to 3 hours A superb traverse of the mountain-side on a rocky path interspersed with meadows takes us just below the Rifugio Città di cavernous Rifugio Vittorio Emmanuele, although we do not go to the hut itself. We descend from below the refuge Chivasso 7: to the holiday village of Pont, where there is one small shop, and then up through the woods to the long Piano del Nivole and up to the Col del Nivole. We experience changes of scenery and interest throughout. 2604m 650m↑ / 990m↓; 19km (11.8 miles); 6 hours We cross the road and make our way up the green hillside towards the Col Rosset as our route becomes increasingly wild and remote. There are superb views backwards over the range from which we have come on the Rifugio way up and superb views all around at the col. The approach to the col itself, similar to that to the Col Lauson, is Benevolo 8: steep, vertiginous and loose and care will be needed whatever the conditions. The Val di Rhemes below looks a long way away (which it is!), but after the initial steep section we can make progress on good paths towards the 2285m refuge which is out of sight until we are almost upon it. Views here are of the Granta Parei. 590m↑ / 760m↓; 10.5km (6.5 miles); 5 hours This is another pass in a remote and lunar landscape but with an abundance of bright flowers peeking improbably Rifugio Bezzi from impoverished rock. The views of the Grande Sassière and the Gliairetta Glacier from the Col Bassac Déré fill 9: the view in one direction and the views back to the Gran Paradiso fill the other. There is an optional ascent of the 2284m Becca della Traversière (3337m) on an easy path. 1000m↑ / 1000m↓; 15km (9.5 miles); 7 hours 10: Rifugio Chalet So far we have been moving west; now we turn north and back towards the valley, the lovely Valgrisenche. From de l’Epée the Rifugio Bezzi we descend to the road and climb to the refuge, or we will take the Haute Route Glacière across the hillside towards the Chalet de l’Epée with views of the Testa Rutor to the north. 2370m 670 m↑ / 585m↓; 14km (8.7 miles); 5 hours A short walk down the mountain brings us to the charming village of Valgrisenche. A 2 hour minibus transfer brings 11: Return to the UK us back to Turin Airport for the flight back home. 100m↑ / 750m↓; 10km (6.2 miles); 3 hours ACCOMMODATION LIST Rifugio Dondena Tel: + 39 347 254 8391 The Rifugio Dondena is built on the site of a former hunting lodge Valle di Champorcher Fax: None in a pretty location at the head of the Champorcher Valley. It is a E-mail: [email protected] very hospitable refuge serving traditional Italian country fare and Web: www.rifugidellarosa.it accommodating many day trippers. Free showers. Hotel Ondezana Tel: + 39 1065 74248 A charming hotel located in the peaceful village of Cogne, which 11012 – Cogne Aosta Fax: None sits at the foot of the Gran Paradiso massif. The hotel is small and Tel: +39 0165-74248 E-mail: [email protected] comfortable, offering facilities such as TV, WiFi, telephone, Web: www.hotelondezana.it restaurant, and bar. Rifugio Vittorio Sella Tel: + 39 0165 74310 The Vittorio Sella is on the site of another former hunting lodge, a Fax: None big and busy refuge in an imposing location. Facilities include E-mail: [email protected] showers in a separate block and a separate bar area. Web: www.rifugiosella.com Camping Hotel Grivola Tel: + 39 0165 905743 We are on the valley floor here with the small but welcome Bien Fax: None comforts that this small bit of civilisation affords.