For more information and to buy this book click here ISBN: CICERONE. Guides for walkers, trekkers, mountaineers, climbers and cyclists

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2 For more information and to buy this book click here ISBN: CICERONE Guides for walkers, trekkers, mountaineers, climbers and cyclists

3 GRAN PARADISO ALTA VIA TREK AND DAY WALKS by Gillian Price POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

4 Second edition 008 ISBN-13: Gillian Price 1997, 008 1st edition (entitled Walking in Italy s Gran Paradiso) 1997 ISBN-10: Maps and diagrams by Nicola Regine Photos by Gillian Price and Nicola Regine A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Dedication To Nicola (who else?) with all my love Acknowledgements For little Bet and little Dave, as well as Alastair, Giacomo, James, Kate, Kieran and Morgan, all big enough to carry their own rucksacks (and their aunty s) now. Thanks to Nicola once more for his patient labour on the maps and diagrams. For this second edition I was also lucky to have the help of Gran Paradiso park ranger Roberto Cristofani and colleagues who provided precious suggestions. My keen walking companions from visits past and recent were Piero, Bruno, Grazia, Edda and Giampietro, Clive, Lucy, Alice and Holly. Last but not least are the majestic ibex, shy chamois and comical marmots, too numerous to name individually, who make this area so special. Advice to Readers Readers are advised that while every effort is taken by the author to ensure the accuracy of this guidebook, changes can occur which may affect the contents. It is advisable to check locally on transport, accommodation, shops, etc, but even rights of way can be altered. The publisher would welcome notes of any such changes. Front cover: Descent from Rifugio Deffeyes with Lac du Glacier (AV stage 10)

5 CONTENTS Preface...7 Introduction...11 The Gran Paradiso National Park...11 Valleys and Bases...16 Information...17 Access...18 When to Go...1 How to Use this Book... Path Marking...3 Dos and Don ts...3 Emergencies...5 Mountaineering and Guides...7 Maps...8 Accommodation...9 What to Take...33 Wildlife...34 Vegetation...38 Local Traditions...41 Further Suggestions...41 Alta Via...43 Stage 1 Chardonney to Rifugio Dondena...46 Stage Rifugio Dondena to Rifugio Péradzà...49 Stage 3 Rifugio Péradzà to Cogne...5 Stage 4 Cogne to Rifugio Vittorio Sella...56 Stage 5 Rifugio Vittorio Sella to Eaux Rousses...59 Stage 6 Eaux Rousses to Rhêmes-Notre-Dame...63 Stage 7 Rhêmes-Notre-Dame to Rifugio Chalet de l Epée...69 Stage 8 Rifugio Chalet de l Epée to Planaval...7 Stage 9 Planaval to Promoud...76 Stage 10 Promoud to La Thuile...80 Stage 11 La Thuile to Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini...86 Stage 1 Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini to Courmayeur...89 Walks The Lillaz Waterfalls...97 Lago di Loie The Money Glacier Terrace...103

6 4 The Casolari dell Herbetet Traverse Punta Pousset the local Gornergrat Beneath the Grivola Passo d Invergneux and the Mines Circuit Laghi di Lussert Pondel s Roman Bridge The 05m Mont Blanc At the Foot of the Gran Paradiso Over Gran Collet to Col del Nivolet The King s Path in Valle delle Meyes Vallon di Sort Col Rosset Punta Basei Becca della Traversière Legendary San Grato Becca dei Quattro Denti The Royal Track to Ceresole Reale Sentiero Glaciologico Lago Serrù Beneath the Tre Levanne The Villages of Valle dell'orco Beyond the Dam in Vallone di Piantonetto Nivolastro to Andorina Frescoes and Fridges en route to Bivacco Davito Sanctuary of San Besso Col Larissa...11 Appendix 1 Italian English Glossary...17 Appendix Route Summary Table...19 motorway Legend sealed road railway, station walk route walk variant park border international border crest, mountain peak watercourse accommodation + meals bivouac church or shrine cable-car chair lift bus groceries 6

7 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION It was pure delight to return to the Gran Paradiso after a long absence. I had wonderful memories of never-ending summers exploring the network of paths for the original edition of this guide, with exciting daily encounters with ibex and chamois in superb wild valleys and enjoyable rifugio stays. It was just the same again, though this time we shared the paths with an increased number of enthusiastic foreign walkers. In terms of the routes, a new pathway in Val Soana has been added on suggestion from the park rangers; two walks were dropped from the Cogne section as rock falls have made them dangerous and no longer recommendable; while a burnt-down bivouac hut meant altering another. However the major positive change concerns the long-distance Alta Via : it has been re-routed towards the end to avoid the prohibitive Planaval glacier crossing, and new accommodation added. Described in full, this superb trek has been given pride of place in the guide, and provided with profiles for ease of use. In addition, clear redrawn maps illustrate all the walks, enhancing the new design in full colour throughout. A host of brand new photos (thanks to brilliant weather) show readers the myriad aspects of the Gran Paradiso. Happy walking! Gillian Price, Venice, August 007 Heading down the old game track (Walk 0) 7

8 Mont Blanc Val Veny Valle di La Thuile Courmayeur Pré-St-Didier Valle d Aosta Colle del Gr Colle del Piccolo S. Bernardo FRANCE La Thuile 18 Valgrisenche ITALY 19 Planaval Val di Rhêmes 14 Villeneuve Introd Rhêmes- Notre-Dame 10 Valsalvarenche SS6 9 Eaux Rousses Aymaville V a l l o n d Col del Nivolet 1 0 Pont 11 GRAN NATIO 3 Noas ITALY Ceresole Reale 8

9 rlle del Gran S. Bernardo Alta Via route km 4 walk locations Aosta A5 Nus SS6 St.-Vincent Aymavilles Valle d Aosta d a l l o n d i C o g n e Cogne 3 8 Valnontey Lillaz Valle di Champorcher Chardonney Hône-Bard Ivrea RAN PARADISO ATIONAL PARK 6 7 Campiglia Soana 5 Piamprato N 3 s Noasca 4 Ronco Canavese Valle Soana Rosone Valle dell'orco Talosio Sparone SS460 Pont Canavese Torino 9

10 End of extract from GRAN PARADISO For more information and to buy this book click here ISBN: CICERONE Guides for walkers, trekkers, mountaineers, climbers and cyclists

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