Senevé 's Spire or Cénevé Bell Tower

 

Small Bell Tower also Spire of Senevé (2.875/7 meters around); so she was baptized this slender and lower case rocky pyramid, who owns the lines of a Matterhorn in miniature, from the underlying place immediately (2.928m). Compressed of two lateral rocky collets to the West and East, it is actually an intermediate spire between the altitude of 2.888 meters and precisely the Punta di Senevé with its top formed by three small distinct elevations. All along that long watershed between Valpelline and the Central Valley of the Dora Baltea that from Becca di Roisan or Becca di Pechenville (2.546m) "flows" towards the East forming a series of mountains that from 2.856 meters of Becca di Viou reach the double tops of Tsaat à l'Etseina od Etsena (Western about 2.971, Eastern about 2.974/5 meters), where the ridge unfolds in two parts:

1) - the first climbs over the Becchi di Fana (2.951m) or, more precisely, reached the Westernmost one (2.945m) declines decisively in the South up to the balcony of the Croix de Fana (2.212m);

2) - the second to "escape" towards the North and, after having formed the Punta Joseph Maria Henry (2.918m) and the Becca Conge (2.954m), it spreads slightly to the Northeast until it reaches the important Col de Saint Barthélemy (2.645m), sited between Comba Dèche (little basin by Quart Municipality) and Comba Verdona (Valpelline). In the intermediate part of this partition, that is between Mont Mary or Mont Saint Joseph (2.815m) and the Eastern Point of the Tsaat à l'Etsena (Eastern about 2.974/5 and not about 2.967 meters and Western 2.971 meters, exactly the opposite in height to what is stated in Vol. II of "Alpi Pennine" edited by Gino Buscaini in which, between pages 571/573, the East Tip is quoted in about 2.967 meters and the West in 2.971 meters IGM; the all is the result of analyzes carried out by me following numerous personal ascents, also in different winter seasons),), the crest proceeds pseudo-rectilinearly forming the Punta di Chamerod (about 2.750/7 meters), the Punte de Les Prèles or Preyes also Preilles (about 2.747/8 meters the forked or Western Summit, 2.750/1 meters around the Eastern Top), between the two Cols de Chaudière (2.680 meters the Eastern and even the unique practicable), the Tête d'Arpisson (2.856m), the complex Altitude 2.888 meters and then descend bristling with a whole series of spiers on the underlying double collar of Senevé on which "our" bell tower rises for about fifty meters. All this is clearly visible from the valley floor in the stretch of road or highway that from the Municipality of Nus (529m) reaches that of Quart-Villefranche (526m) and then in succession Saint Chistophe (573m) and Aosta City. Seen from this side or from the South, it has a steep triangular wall divided into two parts by a small edge just mentioned; the same infuses itself for another thirty meters in a detrital-snowy channel, in which the aspect changes between one and the other state towards the beginning of summer, and then returns to the snow towards the end of the autumn-early winter. On the opposite side, that is the Northern one, the spire appears less abrupt and more "malleable" with two faces turned over the narrow and "rectangular" Comba of Fouillou, located between the Punta di Senevé and the Tête d'Arpisson and used in the last years of the 1900 for the ski-mountaineering trip to the first (Senevé) starting from Valpelline-Prailles location (942 meters near the "Camping Grand Combin") and through the very wooded Comba di Arpisson or Arpisson 's little Basin. On this side, a small ledge at the base of the spire allows, going down quite easily about ten meters, the passage between the two similar collars (Western and Eastern, the booth about 2.850 meters). The Eastern Collar can also be reached from the Punta di Senevé or Cénevé with a brief descent along its short (about eighty meters), but steep West-southwest Ridge, as did the a group of roped climbers of October 08th, 1972, which here he stopped without climbing the Senevé's also Cénevé's Spire or Bell Tower and then went back on the main Senevé Summit with the same itinerary. A small spire that in second photo just below can clearly be seen also on the Valpelline side, as well as immediately to the right (West) of Punta di Senevé or, on the opposite side of the Dora, also known as Punta di Cénevé. It results climbed for the first one turned by Osvaldo Cardellina the 11 of October 1992 in the long and weary crossing in crest from Becca of Roisan to the Croix de Fana; the rope 1972 Quendoz-Jorrioz discarded to the right it immediately attaching on the fork to East, coming from the evident and quite steep, but easy, detrital gully to start the partial crossing on the ridge up to Colle di Fana (2.880 m).

 

Long watershed from Mont Mary towards Becchi di Fana and between Cénevé (right) & Arpisson-Fouillou Vallons

 

Campanilino o Guglia di Senevé (2.875/7 metri circa); così é stata battezzata questa slanciata e minuscola piramide rocciosa, che possiede le linee di un Cervino in miniatura, dal nome della località subito sottostante l'omonima punta (2.928 m), ampio bacino rivolto alla Valle Centrale della Dora Baltea. Compresso da due colletti rocciosi laterali ad Ovest ed ad Est, in realtà é una guglia intermedia tra la Quota 2.888 metri ed appunto la Punta di Senevé, quest'ultima con la sua sommità formata da tre piccole elevazioni distinte. Il tutto su quel lungo spartiacque tra la Valpelline e la Valle Centrale della Dora Baltea che dalla Becca di Roisan o Becca di Pechenville (2.546 m) "scorre" verso Oriente formando una serie di montagne che dai 2.856 metri della Becca di Viou raggiungono la duplice Tsaat à l'Etseina od Etsena (circa 2.971 metri l'Occidentale e circa 2.974/5 metri l'Orientale ), là dove la cresta si dispiega in due parti:

2) - la seconda "scappa" verso Settentrione e, dopo aver formato la Punta Joseph Maria Henry (2.918 m) e la Becca Conge (2.954 m), dispiega leggermente a Nordest fino a raggiungere l'importante Col de Saint Barthélemy (2.645 m) per poi rialzarsi con la Punta di Verdona (2.868m). Nel tratto intermedio di questo divisorio, cioé tra il Mont Mary o Mont Saint Joseph (2.815 m) e la Punta Orientale della Tsaat à l'Etsena (Sommità Orientale 2.974/5 metri circa e non 2.967 metri circa nonché Cima Occidentale 2.971 metri, esattamente al contrario in altezza di quanto reciti il Vol. II di "Alpi Pennine" a cura di Gino Buscaini nel quale, tra le pagine 571/573, si quota la Punta Est in 2.967 metri circa e la Ovest in 2.971 metri IGM; il tutto frutto di analisi da me effettuate a seguito di numerose personali ascensioni, anche in diverse stagioni invernali), la cresta procede in maniera pseudo-rettilinea formando la Punta di Chamerod (2.750/7 metri circa), le Punte de Les Preles, tra i due Colli di Chamerod, la Tête d'Arpisson (2.815 m) quest'ultima conosciuta anche come Pelon de Quart, la complessa Quota 2.888 metri per poi scendere irta con tutta una serie di guglie sul sottostante doppio colletto di Senevé sul quale si innalza per una cinquantina di metri il "nostro" Campanile. Tutto questo risulta ben visibile dal fondovalle nel tratto di strada o di autostrada che dal Comune di Nus (529 m) raggiunge quello di Quart-Villefranche (526 m) e poi in successione Saint Chistophe (573 m) ed Aosta. Visto da questo lato o Meridionale, presenta una ripida parete triangolare divisa in due parti da uno spigoletto appena accennato; la medesima si infonde per un'altra trentina di metri in un canale detritico-nevoso, nel quale l'aspetto muta tra l'uno e l'altro stato verso l'inizio dell'estate, per poi ritornare innevato verso la fine dell'autunno-inizio dell'inverno. Sul lato opposto, ovvero Settentrionale, la guglia appare meno abrupta e più "malleabile" presentando due facce rivolte sopra la stretta e "rettangolare" Comba di Fouillou, situata tra la Punta di Senevé e la Tête d'Arpisson nonché utilizzata negli ultimi anni del 1900 per la gita sci-alpinistica alla prima partendo da Valpelline ed attraverso la Comba di Arpisson. Su questo lato, una piccola cengia alla base della guglia permette, scendendo abbastanza facilmente di una decina di metri, il passaggio tra i due colletti (Occidentale ed Orientale 2.850 metri circa per entrambi). Il Colletto Orientale può essere raggiunto anche dalla Punta di Senevé o Cénevé con una breve discesa lungo la sua corta (all'incirca un'ottantina di metri), ma ripida Cresta Ovest-sudovest, come fece la cordata dell'8 di Ottobre 1972, che qui si fermò senza scalare il Campanile oppure Guglia di Senevé per poi risalire sulla medesima Punta di Senevé con lo stesso itinerario. Una piccola guglia che nella foto appena qui sotto si può chiaramente individuare anche sul versante della Valpelline, nonché subito a destra (Ovest) della Punta di Senevé o, dal lato opposto della Dora, conosciuta anche siccome Punta di Cènevé. Risulta salito per la prima volta da Osvaldo Cardellina l'11 di Ottobre 1992, nella lunga ed estenuante traversata in cresta dalla Becca di Roisan alla Croix de Fana; la cordata Quendoz-Jorrioz dell'estate 1972 lo scartò a destra attaccando sulla forcella immediatamente ad Est, provenendo dall'evidente ed abbastanza ripido, ma facile, canalone detritico per iniziare la parziale traversata in cresta insino al Colle di Fana.

 

Same watershed in opposite or Northern side from Becca de Viou towards Bell Tower & Pointe de Senevé between Valpelline/Central Valleys

First Ascents

• First on Summit: Osvaldo Cardellina, lone, (October 11th, 1992), from Quota 2.888 meters through before the Western Crest and after by Northwestern Face, in ascent and in descent, during the Great Traverse. from Becca Roisan-Quota 2.494 meters also Becca de Blavy-Becca Viou-Mont Mary or Mont de Saint Joseph-Chamerod and two Les Preles Points-Tête d'Arpisson or Pelon de Quart-Quota 2.888 meters-Senevé Point-Quota 2.945/50 meters about-Tsaat à l'Etsena West/East-Becchi di Fana-Croix de Fana: Osvaldo Cardellina, lone (Oct 11th, 1992), Blavy to Trois Villes Villages (the middle of Avisod).
• First repetition or second ascent of Summit: Osvaldo Cardellina and Alessandro Cardellina, (July 18th, 2005), from Chamerod Village towards the Quota 2.888 meters, after the first ascent on Southern Face of the same, through before the Western Crest and after by Northwestern Face,, in ascent and in descent, during the crossing up to the Punta di Senevé; in descent S-SE Rib to Senevé or Cénevé Alp.
• First in winter: not yet climbed.
• Western Ridge and Northwestern Face: Osvaldo Cardellina, solo, (Oct 11th, 1992), during the integral and complete traverse from Becca de Roisan up to the Croix de Fana.
• First on the Eastern Collar: Renato Quendoz and Jules Jorrioz (summer or autumn ? 1972), first arriving from Testa d'Arpisson in traverse towards Quota 2.888 meters and in descent from this and through subsequent traverse from the Western Collar at the base of Senevé Bell Tower, after reaching the western Summit of Tsaat à l'Etseina.
• Second on the Eastern Collar: repeated by Osvaldo Cardellina and Camillo Roberto Ferronato (October 08th, 1972) but with descent on West-Southwest Crest of Punta di Senevé.
• First on the Western Collar: Renato Quendoz and Jules Jorrioz (summer or autumn ? 1972), in descent from Quota 2.888 meters. Second on the Eastern Collar: Osvaldo Cardellina, lone, (October 11th, 1992), always coming downhill from Quota 2.888 meters and before the first ascent on Cénevé Spire .

Getting There

BY CAR:

• From TORINO, MILANO, etc: Motorway A5. Exit at IVREA or Quincinetto (PIEDMONT).
• From IVREA Town: in West (Southern side) towards Pont Saint Martin, Donnas, Bard, Champdepraz, Pontey, Fénis, Nus to Quart-Villefranche and Saint Christophe Municipalities (Eastern Side). From Courmayeur Resort: in East towards Pré Saint Didier, Morgex, Arvier, La Salle, Saint Pierre, Sarre, Aosta to Saint Chistophe and Quart Municipalities (Western Side).
• North-northeastern Sides:
• From Aosta Town to Verrès Municipality From Saint Christophe-Prevot (about 640m), reached by Regional Road from Aosta, to Sorreley Village; from this, with Municipal, towards Veynes Fraction. From subsequent alternative before Lumian (1.025m): *** in East deviation to Cretallaz, Jeanceyaz, Morgonaz Villages at the entrance on Senevé Comba). On asphalt road in Northwest, to Parléaz Village (1.274m), Blavy Hamlet (1.475m) and, through dirt road or path, to Viou Alpages, in Blavy Viou small Basin. From Quart-Villair towards Epilaz, Argnod Villages or from SS.26 nearby La Plantaz (540m), with Regional and Municipal Roads, towards Chétoz, Vignil, Fornail, Ville sur Nus-Planeville, Buignod, Porsan Villages to Trois Villes-Avisod Village (1.398m). From this to Senevé Alps (2.206m), in Senevé Comba. From Quart to Fonteil with previous route; from this through dirt road, towards La Seyvaz (2.184m), Valchourda Alps (2.392m), in Comba Dèche. From Nus-La Plantaz in State Road to Ville sur Nus-Planeville (1.113m); from this, towards Buignod, Avion (1.312m) Villages. Also from Porsan through Trois Villes (1.398m), Avion, fork (1.250m) to Effraz Village (1.487m), with Municipal Roads. From this to Ronc (1.737m), Machaussy Alps, in Effraz Comba.
• Specific Road: just after Quart Fractions (Etolin, Vieille Morte, la Plantaz-Chétoz (better), turn to the left or North-northeast, towards Trois Villes (two parkings). Or with alternative road: from Aosta East toll of the highway follow on the right side toward Quart (556m near the Region Amérique); after the roundabout follow up toward Villair. After passing Argnod (857m) and Ville sur Nus (1.106m) turn to the left to Trois Villes Avisod (1.391m) wherefrom you must start walking. Or by Nus adjacent Commune.
• From FRANCE: through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Entrèves-crossroads to Vény/Ferret Valleys - Mountain Guides of Courmayeur - La Saxe Rock Gym - Courmayeur. By Little Saint Bernard Pass, closed since November until half May to La Thuile Valley - Pré Saint Didier - Courmayeur. It is not necessary to take Motorway A5: you can drive on SS.26, in the direction of AOSTA - IVREA - TURIN.

BY PLANE:

• Aeroporto "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe (Aosta).

Approaches from Chamerod or by Avisod Villages