Penne Blanche

Mountain/Rock

Penne Blanche

Page Type: Mountain/Rock

Location: Aosta Valley, Italy, Europe

Lat/Lon: 45.61890°N / 7.42556°E

Activities: Mountaineering

Elevation: 10676 ft / 3254 m

Page By: Antonio Giani

Created/Edited: Apr 9, 2008 / Apr 11, 2008

Object ID: 395135

Hits: 289

Page Score: 89.87% - 20 Votes

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Table of Contents

Overview

Wide and almost flat summit, this is the highest point of the ridge dividing the Grauson from Urtier valleys in the high part of the Cogne valley.
Very good panoramic view on Gran Paradiso group, on Monte Emilius and on the close Tersiva

Vetta larga, quasi pianeggiante, massima elevazione della Cresta che separa il vallone del Grauson da quello dell’Urtier nell’alta Valle di Cogne, ottimo punto panoramico sul massiccio del Gran Paradiso sul Monte Emilius e sulla vicina Tersiva.

First Ascents

Unknown.
N Wall: Giovanni Bobba and friend, (Jul 28th, 1886).

Getting There

BY CAR:

From Torino, Milano, etc: motorway A5. Exit in Aosta Ovest. Drive to the near Aymavilles. Follow in the direction of Valle di Cogne.
From Switzerland: through the Grand St. Bernard Tunnel or the homonym Pass). Drive to Aosta, then follow Courmayeur direction 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 enter in motorway A5, you can drive through SS.26 Aosta direction. Before arriving at the Village of Sarre, follow the sign and turn right towards Valle di Cogne.

(1534m).

(1787m),

BY PLANE:

Aeroporto Internazionale "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe (Aosta) www.airvallee.com

Route

Go right starting from the car park of Gimillan: after few meters the indications for Lussert Lakes, St. Marcel Pass, etc. are found. The pathway is indicated by the yellow circle 9A and by yellow strips marked on stones along the route. The path begins going immediately uphill, then the slope decreases as we go beyond a little chapel dedicated to the Virgin (1836m). Soon the path resumes to go up and splits in two, before it begins to penetrate into the Grauson valley: it's possible to continue following the right one that goes down as far as the Ecloseur bridge (1904m), but in such a case we must go up again; it's better to follow the left one that, in practice without losing height, arrives at the bridge under the alpeggio Pila (2025m), cross it and, following the stepped pathway, overcome the rocky bastion with a fine waterfall aside. At this point the path turns right markedly entering, high on the torrent, into a small valley; by an alternation of steep and slight slopes, it reaches a panoramic cross, on the edge of a pleasant plateau ( superb view of the far Grivola!). The path goes through the meadows, slightly descendind: after the Alpi di Grauson Vecchie (2271m), cross the torrent on the Pikaciù bridge and begin again to go up, reaching the wide upper part of the Grauson valley. For the first time the Tersiva put it in appearance, while, looking into the distance, the end of the valley appears, close by the Passo d'Invergneux (2905m) and the Serra Madù, WSW ridge of the Tersiva. Shortly afterwards one meets the signs indicating the ways on the left to Laures pass (3035m) and St. Marcel pass (2916m). On the contrary go straight ahead along the pathway n°4, few meters later you can see on the right the alpeggio Pralognan (2418m). Continue as far as the ruins of the alpeggio Ervillieres (2519m),
After the pastures follow toward East along the path leading to Doreire lower lake (2731m), board it on the right side and, on tracks, get the upper lake (2844m).
On toward South and in about 20' tyou get the Invergneux pass (2905m).
Now along the ridge that, westward, leads to the Testa del Vallonet (3135m) keeping the northern side of the aerial ridge where some walk ups are followed by some short rock easy climbing passages and in less than one hour you get the summit.
Rope can be useful.

superato l’alpeggio continuare a salire verso est lungo il sentiero che conduce al lago di Doreire inferiore (2731 m.), proseguire sulla destra del lago e su tracce di sentiero raggiungere il lago di Doreire superiore (2844 m.), continuare verso sud e dopo circa 0.20’ si raggiunge il colle dell’Invergneux (2905 m.). Seguire verso ovest la cresta che porta alla Testa del Vallonet (3135 m.) tenendosi leggermente verso il versante nord, lungo la cresta aerea a tratti comminabile alternata da passaggi di I° e II° su blocchi di roccia accatastati e dopo circa 0.40 si raggiunge la vetta. (Si consiglia l’uso della corda).

Difficulties

The route can be rated for Expert Hikers with some climbing experience
L’itinerario è da considerarsi EE/F.

Equipment

Hikers gear, a rope can be useful on the final ridge
Da escursionismo, consigliabile l'uso della corda lungo la cresta.

Campings

Remember that free camping is forbidden (except for emergency reasons, over 2.500 mt., from darkness until dawn).