Gino Rainetto (Giovane Montagna) bivouac hut

Description

Metal and wood structure built in 1963, always open without warden, with room for 8 people. It's owned by the "Giovane Montagna" section of CAI. Unfortunately, the popularity of this route makes it often impossibly crowded, exp. during summer weekends. While sleeping here can be convenient if you plan to climb the nearby Aiguille de Trelatete, my suggestion for Pt. Mt. Blanc is to climb all the way from Plan Combal, without bothering to stay at the Rainetto (unless you want to catch the sunrise). It’s faster, easier and far better for acclimatization purposes.

Access

Diff EE, 1370 m

From La Visaille/Plan Lognan, 1670 m., pass the bridge and take the closed car road, that goes up gently for almost 3 km. until the panoramic Plan Combal, 1990 m. (1h - tiny bar/restaurant - a little deviations brings you in 5 minutes to the glacial Lac Miage). To the left of the bar you’ll see a path marked with a little “Bivacco Rainetto” sign. The path goes almost horizontally above the marshy plain (fantastic in June when is full of white and jellow flowers), then turn left and begin to climb with many turns over the massive southern rampart of the Petit Mt. Blanc. Around 2340 m., the path goes thorugh an area with many boulders, then enter the large and very evident couloir above.

This couloir is normally extremely easy with dry conditions. However, if there’s too much unstable snow (a not rare occurrence at the beginning of season), it can become dangerous or even impossible to climb. In doubt, renounce!

At the top of the couloir, reach the flat Col du Combal (2833 m.) to the left, then right for a while, then straight up scrambling above a easy barrier of excellent rock (beware in descent if wet!), following the many traces and stone cairns that mark the path. Then for a often snowy slope, you reach the bivouac (huge cross nearby).

3 hours from Plan Combal, 4 from Plan Lognan

Images

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