TREKKING WEEK - YOUTH MOUNTAINEERING TREKKING ON THE ANCIENT SALT ROUTES BETWEEN LIGURIA AND PIEMONTE (Limone Piemonte - Sanremo - ITALY) (July 11 – 17, 2010) Club Alpino Italiano Commissione Centrale Alpinismo Giovanile Commissione Interregionale Alpinismo Giovanile LPV CAI GR LIGURIA CAI GR PIEMONTE CAI SANREMO Club Alpino Italiano Sez. di Sanremo “Alpi Liguri” Piazza Cassini, 13 – Tel. 0184 505983 Casella postale 362 – 18038 Sanremo The trek proposed by the Alpine Club Sanremo’s section follows an itinerary across Liguria and Piemonte and by passing the French boundary it becomes international. It passes through two national parks: the “Natural Park of Alta Valle Pesio and Tanaro”, and the “Alpi Liguri Park”. The path rolls along the ancient salt and oil routes laying between Liguria and Piemonte, also the ending part of the well known “Via Alpina” route and part of the “Alta Via dei Monti Liguri”. The course will pass through the carsic zone of “Piaggia Bella”, a cave system that reaches over 40 km in length and 1000 m in depth, one of the most important in Europe. Along the way the ancient Sabaude fortifications (19th century), defending the Reign of Savoia, can be observed. Sunday 11 : meeting at Sanremo’s train station. Coach transfer to Limone Piemonte (1010 m), one of most important tourism centers in Piemonte. Greetings and presentation of the trek. Dinner and accommodation in hotel. Monday 12 : from Limone Piemonte (1010 m) to Don Barbera mountain hut (2079 m). Coach ride to the Colle di Tenda (1871 m), one of the most important mountain pass connecting Italy and France. The trek will begin from here. The first drill project of Colle di Tenda was initiated in 1614, and quit, for technical problems, after 75 mt of excavation, it was the first attempt of tunnel in the Alps. On the pass and along the path, there are part of the fortifications of the defensive line of the Colle di Tenda, their construction began in 1880 and were made by the Sabaudian Reign to protect Piemonte. The defensive line consisted in six main fortresses and various secondary buildings. We will touch only two of these forts: the Central Fort and the Pepin Fort. The journey will start with the visit of the Central Fort. From the pass there is a wonderful view on Rocca dell’Abisso, on the Argentera Mountain Group, where the highest mountain of the Marittime Alps is, and on most of the Western Alps (Cervino, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso), and naturally on Monviso, mountain which is the symbol of the Italian Alpine Club. The course will proceed along an old military road and, by following the GTA path, will reach the top of Becco Rosso (“Red Beak”, 2214 m) and the Pepin Fort (2263 m). fRom here the trail follows along the mountain crest, between 2200 and 2350 m, intercepting several times the old military road, up to the feet of Testa Ciaudion (2386 m). The view covers the Roya Valley, Piemonte’s plain and the Western Alps. We will continue along this road until the Don Barbera hut (2079 m), were one of the most important carsic regions in Europe begins. Total time: 5 - 6 hours. Height difference: 600 m. Tuesday 13 : from Don Barbera hut (2079 m) to Havis de Giorgio Mondovì hut (1761 m). From the hut, crossing part of the carsic zone of Colle dei Signori, where are various caves that reach over -500 m depth, we will climb the Marguareis Peak (2659 m), the highest mountain top we will touch. From this mountain, the view is incredible and, with good conditions, your sight will pass from the Mediterranean sea, with Corsica and Elba Islands, to the Apuane Alps, the 4000 m mountains of the Western Alps, to Pizzo Bernina, and the ever-present Monviso. Descending from the peak we will follow the path that leads to Saracco Volante Hut (2200 m) and Colle del Pas (2342 m). From there, we will continue down to the Rataira and Biecai (1967 m) lakes, until the hut Havis de Giorgio Mondovì (1761 m). This part of the trek is entirely inside the Natural Park of “Alta Valle Pesio and Tanaro”. Total time: 5 or 6 hours. Height difference: +800 m / -1200 m. Wednesday 14 : from Havis de Giorgio Mondovi’ hut (1761 m) to Cima delle Saline (2612 m) and to Don Barbera hut (2079 m). We will walk along the mule trak to the Passo delle Saline (2174 m); that was built by the Romans to connect Albenga to Acqui. It was mainly used in the past to carry salt from the Ligurian coast to Piemonte and for this reason was called “Salt way”. From Passo delle Saline we will climb a steep slope, and after having crossed a rocky escarpment, we will reach the Cima delle Saline (2612 m). Then along an easy plain we will arrive at Cima di Pian Ballaur (2604 m), and down to Capanna Saracco Volante (2220 m). From here begins the Carsena del Pas or Grotta di Piaggia Bella, a group of carsic caves of almost 1000 m in depth and over 42 km lenght, with 15 entries. We will, then, continue up to Don Barbera hut, where we will spend an other night. Total time: 7 hours. Height difference: + 1000 m / - 500 m. Thursday 15 : from Don Barbera hut (2079 m) to Sanremo mountain hut (2078 m). In the morning we will head towards Colle delle Selle Vecchie (2098 m), from where we will reach the mountain peak of Cima Bertrand (2481 m), the highest peak of the Saccarello’s mountain Group. We will proceed along a marvelous crest, with a view from the Alps to the sea (along the coast of Liguria and the French Riviera), still by crest we will pass thought Cima Missun (2356 m), Punta Farenga (2211 m), Cima Ventosa (2136 m) and, last, Monte Saccarello’s peak (2200 m), the highest in Liguria. From here we will join the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri up to Sanremo’s mountain hut (2078 m). Total time: 6 /7 hours. Height difference: + 800 m / - 400 m. Friday 16 : from Sanremo’s hut (2078 m) to Allavena hut (1545 m). From Sanremo’s hut we will climb again towards Monte Saccarello (2200 m) and from there down to Passo di Collardente (1600 m); around this pass tooks place a bloody battle between Austrian and Piemonte’s armies and the general Massena’s napoleonic troops, in which the French lost more than 400 men. We will go on along the military road, passing under Cima di Marta (2138 m) and Cima dei Graj (2012 m), until Allavena hut. In this part of the trail there are several military constructions built during the Second World War. If there is enough time we will visit the underground fortifications inside Cima di Marta (2138), do not forget to put a torch in your bag! Total time: 6/7 hours. Height difference: + 500 m / - 1200 m. Saturday 17 : from Allavena hut (1545 m) – Monte Toraggio (1973 m) – Buggio – to Sanremo. Starting from Colle Melosa (Allavena hut), along a mule trak, we will reach and follow the Alpini’s Path, built for military purposes between 1936 and 1938. The trail was cut into the rock and in some parts passes over high ridges. The width varies from 1 to 2 m, and there are also some fix ropes for trekkers’safety. The path has been recently readapted (in 2008) by Imperia’s Province. It reaches the feet of Mount Pietravecchia, where an ancient water source come out from the rocks. From there we will walk up the narrow gorge “dell’Incisa” (1685 m) and along the northern side to the meadows below the peak. Here, because of a steep slope, we will have to proceed on the rocks that’ll lead us to the top of Mount Toraggio (1973 m), also called “Cervino of the Maritime Alps”. From this peak we will go down across the pastures of the southern slope to Case Prearba (1104 m), and then we will proceed along the path until the ancient village of Buggio. Where the coach will take us back to Sanremo, and the end of the trek. This last of the course is within the newest of the Italian Natural Parks: the “Parco Delle Alpi Liguri”. Total time: 6/7 hours. Height difference: + 700 m / - 1500 m. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Participants : 2 young people, aged between 14 – 17, for each Country + 1 youth leader. Meeting point : Sanremo (Italy)– Train Station’s ticket office within 2 P.M. on Sunday the 11 of July 2010. Accommodation : hotels and mountain huts along the way. Meals : breakfast and dinner in hotels and huts; lunch pack provided by organization. Price per participant : 250 euro – to be handed on arrival – including: sleeping at hotels or huts, meals and coach transfers. The price does not include the travel to Sanremo. Equipment : hiking clothes, mountain boots and socks, wind and rainproof jacket, light sleeping bag, torch, small towel, soap, underwear, etc. Organization and secretariat: Santeusanio Antonio (ANAG) Cai Sanremo - Via Z. Massa n.362 - 18038 Sanremo Tel. e fax 0184 574070 Cell. 3472449051 e-mail: [email protected] Parodi Bruno Cai Sanremo - Salita Monte Calvo 20 - 18038 Sanremo Tel. 0184 576053 Cell. 3335901304 e-mail : [email protected] For English or Spanish communications please address to Flavio Sapia: Mobile +39 3356478923 e-mail: [email protected] Coordination : Dolores De Felice (ANAG) – Italian Alpine Club - YC / UIAA delegate e-mail: [email protected] TREKKING ON THE ANCIENT SALT ROUTES BETWEEN LIGURIA AND PIEMONTE (Limone Piemonte - Sanremo - ITALY) (July 11 – 17, 2010) APPLICATION FORM Federation: __________________________________________ Country_______________________ Address: _______________________________________ Phone: ____________________ Fax: _________________ e-mail: ___ ___________________________ Applicant 1 Applicant 2 Applicant 3 Youth leader Name Family name Date of birth Address : (street, postal code, city, Country) Phone (day/evenings) Mobile Fax E-mail Food (problems) : Vegetarian YES / NO YES / NO YES / NO YES / NO Allergies YES / NO YES / NO YES / NO YES / NO If yes , please indicate which are the foods to be avoided; If any remedy or medicines are needed, they must be taken with ARRIVAL Date / time: _______________________________________ θθθ train car θθθ plane θθθ ( Flight number ___________ Airport ________________ ) We are responsable for ensuring that we are adequately insured against personal accident, rescue and sudden illness.