Punta Chalanson

Getting There

- Fom Turin,motorway A55 exit Venaria Reale follow indications for Lanzo Torinese and go on through Germagnano and Ceres, here you enter in Val d'Ala, continue passing Ala di Stura and Balme and reach Pian della Mussa (1830 m.) where the road ends (78 km from Turin). Here you find Rifugio Città di Ciriè, or in 2.30 h on a good path, you can reach the Rifugio Gastaldi.

Red Tape

There are no fees or permits.

Pay parking at Pian della Mussa, at the start of the route to Rifugio Gastaldi, there are no limitations for climbing and hiking. No problem for one night free camping, take care of nature as usual!

Normal Route

In 1 day, from Pian della Mussa - Rifugio Città di Ciriè using the path to Rifugio Gastaldi, reach the Pian dei Morti, from here turn right ascent the Naressa pasture and following the indications reach Pian Gias (2.15 h).

In 2 days, from Rifugio Gastaldi (2659 m) following the horizontal path on N direction, reach the old arrive station of the aerial railway and descent on the rocky slope to Pian Gias (50 min.).

From Pian Gias (2580 m.) ascent on the left side of the glacier till surround the base of SSW ridge of Punta Chalanson and rise on the right the snowy slope of Collerin Glacier. Reach the Lower Chalanson Pass (3316 m. – Difficult F – 1.40 h) a large level area of debris, warning French side throw down directly on Glacier des Evettes, and proceed on the right ascending the West ridge reaching directly the summit (Difficult PD – 40/1.30 h, according to the ridge conditions). The first part of the ridge is rocky after is snowy, shaped and exposed, you must be careful especially with ice.

Variant: it is usual to reach the Chalanson West ridge on the right of the Lower Chalanson Pass, climbing the snow slope (WSW side) on the right of a rocky spur.

DESCENT: Descend on the same route, from Pian Gias is useful, if you don’t have to return to Rifugio Gastaldi, to descent directly on the Naressa pasture to Pian della Mussa, in this case pay attention at the end of Pian Gias, leave the snowy slope for the path on the right moraine (hydrographic).

When to Climb

The best time is from June to middle of July (depending of snow quantity and conditions).