▲Gran Paradiso Group - Northern Sector : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

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Western side of Gran Paradiso range, seen from the shore of a small lake in the Vallone delle Meyes. From left one can see: Herbetet, Punta Budden, Becca di Montandayné, Piccolo Paradiso, Gran Paradiso, Becca di Moncorvé (July 1974)

Further general information concerning Gran Paradiso GROUP can be obtained in the following pages:
Gran Paradiso GROUP
Gran Paradiso_Features
WE Main Ridge of Gran Paradiso Group
Southern Sector of Gran Paradiso Group

Specific information can be obtained also concerning the single summits belonging to the Gran Paradiso Group up to now posted in SP: here is an interactive list, ordered according to the submission date.

A) Gran Paradiso (4061m)
B) la Grivola (3969m)
C) Tresenta (3609m)
D) Gran Serra (3552m)
E) Ciarforon (3642m)
F) Punta Rossa della Grivola (3630m)
G) Becca di Moncorvè (3875m)
H) Becco Meridionale della Tribolazione (3360m)
I) Becca di Montandayné (3838m)
J) Bioula, Punta di (3414m)
K) Roccia Viva (3650m)
L) Taou Blanc, Mont (3438m)
M) Mont Paillasse (2414m)
N) Torre del Gran San Pietro (3962m)
O) Herbetet, Punta (3778m)
P) Becca di Monciair (3544m)
Q) Torre di Sant'Orso (3618m)
R) Testa di Entrelor (2580m)
S) Punta di Ceresole (3777m)
T) Cresta Gastaldi (3894m)
U) Becca di Gay (3621m)
V) Torre di Lavina (3308m)
W) Punta Basei (3338m)
X) Il Roc (4026m)

Moving SLOWLY the pointer of your mouse over each labelled summit, its name and height are shown.
Clicking on it, you will go the SP related page

Interactive map showing location, name and height of the summits posted on SP.

Overview

The Gran Paradiso group includes the only 4000 meter summit entirely in Italian territory, that is the namesake summit that reaches 4061 meters.
It is one of the most important groups of the Western Alps; in particular it belongs to Alpi Graie (Graian Alps). Its western and eastern boundaries are not exactly identified: the geological limits are generally placed W at Col del Nivolet (2612m) and E at Col dell'Arietta (2939m), whereas the debated geographical limits are placed W at Col di Rhemes or Punta Basei (3338m), E at Rosa dei Banchi (3164m) or Bec Pragelas (2908m).
In the latter case, the borders coincide with the ones of Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, the first Italian National Park instituted in the year 1922, approximately on the area that had been the Royal Hunting Preserve.
King Vittorio Emanuele II had wanted the preserve, in order to prevent the extinction of steinbock (Capra ibex) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), of which he was an inveterate hunter.

Handmade map of the Gran Paradiso National Park. In red the limits of the Park, in black the border between the northern sector (Valle d'Aosta) and the southern one (Piemonte)

Both group and park extend over Valle d'Aosta and Piemonte, whose border is just the ridge, belonging to the Gran Paradiso group and running from west to east. In Valle d'Aosta, a series of ranges developing in the south-north direction separates the three principal valleys; from the west they are: Val di Rhemes, Valsavarenche and valle di Cogne, which in turn originates Valnontey (that is the heart of the Group), Valeille, and the secondary valleys of Bardoney, Acque Rosse and Urtier.

Getting There

Valle di Cogne

From Torino, Milano, etc: Motorway A5. Exit at Aosta Ovest. Drive to the near Aymavilles. Follow the directions for Valle di Cogne.
From Switzerland: through the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel or the namesake Pass.Drive to Aosta, then follow the direction for Courmayeur on SS.26. Just after Sarre, turn to the left, in the direction of Valle di Cogne.
From France: through Mont Blanc Tunnel or Petit St. Bernard Pass. It isn't necessary to take motorway A5: you can drive on SS.26, in the direction of Aosta. Before arriving at the village of Sarre, turn right following the sign for Valle di Cogne.

After Aymavilles, the Regional Road n° 47 crosses the villages of Vieyes, Epinel and Cretaz and after about 25 Km arrives at Cogne (1534m). From Cogne you can get the villages of Lillaz (1617m) or Valnontey (1666m).

Val di Rhemes and Valsavarenche

From France, through the Mont Blanc Tunnel or the Col du Petit Saint Bernard: you can drive on SS.26, following the direction for Aosta and, before arriving in Villeneuve, turn right towards Introd. Alternatively, you can take Motorway A5 (at Courmayeur or Morgex) and exit at Aosta Ovest.
From all other directions: get to the Aosta Ovest exit of motorway A5. Then drive along SS.26 Aosta, direction Courmayeur, and just after Villeneuve turn left towards Introd.

Shortly after Introd, you arrive at a junction:

you can go straight following the sign "Val di Rhêmes" and then drive through Rhêmes Saint Georges as far as Rhêmes Notre Dames; after the main village, Bruil (1723m), the road reaches the hamlet of Pellaud, then becomes narrower and may be followed as far as the vast parking in view of Thumel (1880m). From here the road follows but the transit is forbidden.
or you can turn left, entering in Valsavarenche, and through many villages (Degioz, Eaux Rousses, etc) you can arrive at Pont (1978m) where the road ends.

Summits of the Gran Paradiso GROUP

Summits of the Gran Paradiso GROUP reported in the previous map
1_Punta Galisia 3346 m	28_Punta Rossa della Grivola 3630 m
2_Punta Basei 3338 m	29_La Grivola 3969 m
3_Punta Gran Vaudala 3272 m	30_Grivoletta 3514 m
4_Taou Blanc 3438 m	31_Gran Nomenon 3488 m
5_Aouillé 3440 m	32_Mont Favret 3173 m
6_Cima di Entrelor 3430 m	33_Punta Valletta 2793 m
7_Punta Percià 3227 m	34_Becca Piana 2271 m
8_La Roletta 3384 m	35_Punta Ceresole 3777 m
9_Punta Bianca 3427 m	36_Testa della Tribolazione 3642 m
10_Punta Bioula 3414 m	37_Testa di Valnontey 3562 m
11_Punta del Ran 3272 m	38_Becca di Gay 3621 m
12_Punta Chamoussière 2942 m	39_Becco Meridionale della Tribolazione 3360 m
13_Monte Paillasse 2414 m	40_Roccia Viva 3650 m
14_Cima dell'Arolley 2996 m	41_Torre del Gran San Pietro 3692 m
15_Cima di Seiva 3075 m	42_Punte Patri 3581 m
16_Punta Fourà 3411 m	43_Punta Valletta 3356 m
17_Mare Pércia 3385 m	44_ Punta di Valmiana 3244 m
18_Denti del Breuil 3454 m	45_Punta Fenilia 3053 m
19_Becca di Monciair 3544 m	46_Punta d'Ondezana 3452 m
20_Ciarforon 3642 m	47_Becco di Valsoera 3369 m
21_La Tresenta 3609 m	48_Punta delle Sengie 3408 m
22_Becca di Moncorvè 3875 m	49_Monveso di Forzo 3322 m
23_Gran Paradiso 4061 m	50_Grande Arolla 3246 m
24_Piccolo Paradiso 3923 m	51_Punta della Tsesère 3117 m
25_Becca di Montandayné 3838 m	52_Torre di Lavina 3308 m
26_Herbetet 3778 m	53_Punta di Acque Rosse 2952 m
27_La Gran Serra 3552 m	54_Punta Nera 3064 m

Northern Sector: North-South Ridges

In black: summits In blue: passes In underscored bold: summits posted on SP (linked to their related page)

Watershed Valle di Rhêmes-Valle dell'Orco & Valle di Rhêmes-Valsavarenche

Watershed VAL di RHÊMES - VALLE dell'ORCO
Punta Galisia 3346 m
Punta Bousson 3337 m
Punta Basei 3338 m
Colle Basei 3176 m
Colle di Nivoletta 3130 m
Cime di Nivoletta S. 3152 m / N. 3209 m
Gran Vaudala S. 3250 m / N. 3272 m		A ridge starts in NW direction: Colle della Gran Vaudala 3000 m Punta della Paletta S. 3024 m / N. 2981 m
Punta del Rosset 3100 m
Col Rosset 3023 m
Punta del Leynir (Vaudaletta) S.3224 m / N.3235 m		A short ridge going approximately towards SE, after an unnamed pass (3111 m) culminates with Punta Bes (3177 m)

Watershed VALLE di RHÊMES-VALSAVARENCHE: ENTRELOR Subgroup
Punta Leynir (Vaudaletta) S. 3224 m / N. 3235 m
Colle Leynir 3084 m		It connects Vallone della Vaudaletta ( Val di Rhêmes) with Vallone del Leynir (Nivolet basin)
Mont Taou Blanc 3438 m		Placed between Colle Leynir and Colle dell'Aouillè, it's the southerner summit of the set of three: Taou Blanc-Aouillè-Entrelor, all having about the same height (3438m /3440m /3430m)
Colle dell'Aouillè 3327 m
Cima dell'Aouillè 3440 m
Cima di Entrelor 3430 m		Two ridges start from here: the first one directed westwards separates the hanging valleys ("valloni") of Vaudaletta and Entrelor and culminates with Becca di Tsambeina 3162m, where furtherly splits up into three branches: NNW, ending with la Treutse 2576m NW, ending with an unnamed summit 2680m WSW ending with Becca Nouvaz 2871m the second ridge, named Costa delle Meyes (or Aouillè), goes eastwards after an unnamed summit at quote 3357m and culminates with Punte delle Meies: W. 3155m/Central 3103m/E. 3010m
Colle Percià 3152 m
Punta Percià (Fourà): S. 3227 m / N. 3212 m		From the Northern summit a ridge, named Costa le Mentò, starts eastwards, separating Vallone delle Meyes from Vallone del Nampio, descends to Colle della Mentò 2795 m and, after Testa della Mentò (Chandelly) 2812 m, declines towards the valleybottom
Colle di Entrelor 3002 m		The access from Val di Rhêmes is steeper than the one from Vallone del Nampio (Valsavarenche)

Watershed VALLE di RHÊMES-VALSAVARENCHE: BIOULA Subgroup
Colle di Entrelor 3002 m		West of Colle Entrelor, Testa di Entrelor (2580 m) separates Vallone di Entrelor and Vallone di Sort
Cime di Gollien: S. 3116 m/ Central 3116 m / N. 3125 m
Colle di Sort 2964 m
La Roletta 3384 m
Clocher de Djuan 3415 m
Punta Bianca di Bioula 3427 m
Passo di Lorguibet 3185 m
Forquin de Bioula 2965 m
Tours de Notre-Dame 3325 m
Punta Bioula 3414 m
Passo di Nequedé 3030 m
Punta del Ran 3272 m
Punta Chamoussière 2942 m
Monte Paillasse 2414 m
Col du Mont Blanc 2170 m
Mont Blanc de Rhêmes 2205m

Watershed Valsavarenche-Valle di Cogne

Watershed VALSAVARENCHE-VALLE di COGNE: GRAN PARADISO Subgroup
il Roc 4026 m
Gran Paradiso 4061m
Colle del Piccolo Paradiso 3877 m
Piccolo Paradiso: Punta Frassy Southern Peak 3923 m Punta Farrar Central Peak 3921 m Punta Vaccarone Northern Peak 3868 m		It consist of a snowy cap and a series of rocky towers; in the past their names changed several times, starting from the initial name "Pic de l'Infortune" given to the cap
Colle di Montandayné 3723 m
Becca di Montandayné 3838 m
Finestra di Tsasset 3633 m
Punta Budden 3683 m
Colle Bonney 3587 m		It separates Punta Budden from the southern ridge of Herbetet, where the characteristic "Torre Biforcuta" is placed
Herbetet 3778 m		A secondary ridge starts Westwards from Herbetet: Colli del Gran Neyron: E. 3414 m / W. 3295 m Torre del Gran Neyron 3295 m Punta Money di Valsavarenche 3273 m Colle del Leyser 3000 m Punta Leyser 3155 m
Colli dell'Herbetet: S. 3309 m / N. 3263 m

Watershed VALSAVARENCHE-VALLE di COGNE: GRAN SERRA Subgroup
Gran Serra 3552 m		A ridge named Rayes dell'Herbetet starts eastwards and divides the Vallone dell'Herbetet from Gran Val
Colle della Gran Serra 3370 m
Punta di Leviona 3420 m
Colle di Leviona 3325 m
Punta dell'Inferno 3393 m
Colle del Tuf 3255 m
Cresta del Tuf 3322 m
Punta del Tuf 3393 m
Colle Lauson 3296 m

Watershed VALSAVARENCHE-VALLE di COGNE: La GRIVOLA Subgroup
Colle delle Rayes Noires 3441m
Punta Nera 3683 m	A secondary ridge starts eastwards from Punta Nera: Colle della Nera 3491 m Punta Rossa 3630 m From here, it forks furtherly:
	the right branch follows with: Colle della Rossa 3195 m Costa del Lauson 3208 m Colle di Vermiana 2900 m Testa Tsaplane3013 m Monte Erban 3004 m	the left one divides the Trajo Glacier basin from Vallone del Pousset: Colle del Pousset 3198 m Punta Pousset 3046 m
Punta Bianca 3793 m
Colle della Grivola 3738 m
La Grivola 3969 m	A secondary ridge starts eastwards from la Grivola: Grivoletta 3514 m Colle della Grivoletta 3322 m Punta Crevasse 3303 m Colle del Trajo 2877 m Punta del Trajo 3127 m
Colle di Belleface 3099 m
Gran Nomenon 3488 m
Colle di Charbonnière 2916m
Mont Favret 3173 m
Punta Valletta 2793 m
Colle di Becca Piana 2270 m
Becca Piana 2361 m

Watershed Valnontey-Valeille

Identification of summits, passes and glaciers belonging to the watershed Valnontey-Valeille.
In the far background, on the left, Punta Tersiva (view from Bivacco Leonessa 2910m)

Profile of the Watershed Valnontey -Valeille
SUMMITS and PASSES	GLACIERS
0 – Punta Tersiva 3513 m	a - Ghiacciaio di Valletta
1 – Punta Fenilia 3053 m	b - Ghiacciaio di Patrì
2 – Colle della Granzetta 2933 m	c - Ghiacciaio del Coupè di Money
3 – Punta di Valmiana 3244 m	d - Ghiacciaio di Money
4 – Colle di Valmiana 3093 m
5 – Punta Valletta N. 3318 m / S. 3356 m
6 – Punta Tsissetta 3419 m
7 – Colle Patrì 3361 m
8 – Punta Patrì N. 3561 m
9 – Punta Patrì S. 3581 m
10 – Colle Coupè di Money 3393 m
11 – Dito degli Apostoli 3439 m
12 – Torre di S. Orso 3618 m
13 – Torre di S. Andrea 3651 m
14 – Torre del Gran San Pietro 3692 m
15 – Colle di Money 3443 m

Watershed VALNONTEY-VALEILLE: GRUPPO degli APOSTOLI
Colle di Money 3443 m
Torre del Gran San Pietro 3692 m
Torre di Sant'Andrea: SW 3644 m / NE 3651 m		An important ridge, named Cresta Paganini 3440 m, starts westwards from the main ridge, separating the upper parts of Coupè di Money and Money Glaciers
Torre di Sant'Orso 3618 m
Dito degli Apostoli 3439 m
Coupè di Money 3393 m

Watershed VALNONTEY-VALEILLE: NORTHERN END of the RIDGE
Coupè di Money 3393 m
Punte Patrì: South 3581 m / North 3561 m
Colle Patrì 3361 m
Punta Tsissetta 3419 m
Colle Valletta 3280 m
Punte Valletta: South 3356 m / North 3318 m
Colle di Valmiana 3093 m
Punta di Valmiana 3244 m
Colle della Grandzetta 2933 m
Punta Fenilia 3053 m		A ridge towards NE, in direction of the village of Lillaz, culminates with Punta Vigeusa 2680 m
Testa di Montseuc 2538 m
Montseuc 2333 m

Watershed Valeille-Vallone di Bardoney

Watershed VALEILLE - VALLONE di BARDONEY
Grande Arolla 3246 m
Piccola Arolla 3232 m
Colle dell'Arolla 2892 m
Punta della Tsesere 3117 m
Punta del Rossin 2947 m		A secondary ridge towards NE culminates with: Cima della Valletta di Bardoney 2710 m
Punta di Loie 2676 m		After this summit, hanging over the namesake Loie Lake (2354 m), the chain descends as far as the neigbourhood of Lillaz

Books and Maps

BOOKS

E. Andreis, R. Chabod, M.C. Santis "Guida dei Monti d'Italia - Gran Paradiso Parco Nazionale"
Club Alpino Italiano / Touring Club Italiano, 1980 (in Italian)
L. Zavatta Le valli del Gran Paradiso e la Valgrisenche, guide dell'Escursionista, 2003 (in Italian)

MAPS

Kompass
Gran Paradiso Valle d'Aosta
Sentieri e rifugi-Carta turistica 1:50000
IGC-Istituto Geografico Centrale
Valsavarenche Val di Rhêmes Valgrisenche
Carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi 1:25000
IGC-Istituto Geografico Centrale
Gran Paradiso La Grivola Cogne
Carta 1:25000
I.G.M. -Istituto Geografico Militare
Foglio 41 1:25000
I NO La Grivola - I SO Gran Paradiso - I NE Cogne - I SE Torre del Gran San Pietro
III NE Colle del Nivolet - IV NE Rhêmes Saint George - IV SE Rhêmes Notre Dame

Meteo

You can get meteo information at the official site of the Regione Valle d'Aosta
Valle d'Aosta Meteo

Weather forecasting concerning both Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta can be found at nimbus.it

Camping

There are many camping sites in all the northern valleys of Gran Paradiso Park: Valle di Rhêmes, Valsavarenche and Valle di Cogne, going from West to East.

As already pointed out, remember that free camping is forbidden (except for emergency reasons, over 2500m, from darkness until dawn).

Red Tape

Within the borders of the P.N.G.P. (Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso), at the moment (summer 2005), dogs generally are not allowed, except on a pair of trails, and camping is forbidden (except above 2500m from sunset till dawn).
No fees are due.

Important Information

REGIONE AUTONOMA VALLE D'AOSTA the official site.
FONDAZIONE MONTAGNA SICURA Villa Cameron, località Villard de la Palud 1 Courmayeur (AO) Tel: 39 0165 897602 - Fax: 39 0165 897647.
SOCIETA' GUIDE ALPINE DI COGNE Tel. 347/9473526 – 328/1373728.
A.I.NE.VA. (Associazione Interregionale Neve e Valanghe).
A.IA.T. Cogne Gran Paradis via Bourgeois n° 34 Tel. 0165-74040. E-mail: aiat@cogne.org
Ezio Sport articoli sportivi - via Bourgeois n° 64 Tel. 0165-74204.

Useful Numbers

Soccorso Alpino Cogne (SAR) Tel. 3482685406.
Protezione Civile Valdostana località aeroporto 7/A Saint Christophe (Ao) Tel. 0165-238222.
Bollettino Meteo (weather info) Tel. 0165-44113.
Unità Operativa di Soccorso Sanitario Tel. 118.

External links

P.N.G.P. official site
It's the official site of the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso (in five languages)
parco.nazionale.gran.paradiso
Another complete site concerning the Gran Paradiso National Park, with a lot of information (in three languages)

Images



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