One of the most popular summits in the lower (Northern) part of Gran Paradiso Group, the Gran Serra grows up, well distinguished, from the ridge between the Herbetet and the Grivola: so its little subgroup is the transition zone between two very different kind of rocks (Gneiss of Gran Paradiso and Green rocks and limestones of Grivola)

It is a not small mountain, it is a big ridge between the Valsavarenche and the Valnontey (Cogne valley), most covered by (easy) glaciers.

No difficult routes on this summit that can be climbed in any season, the only problem can be given by the rocks on the higher part when iced.

normal route

First Ascents

First on the summit from S-W Arête: G. Yeld, A. Payot and L. Guichardaz, (Aug 09th, 1879).
In winter: E. Denina and P. Sella, (Dec 30th, 1928).
W Slope: G. Origoni and L. Blanc, (Aug 23th, 1890).
N Arête: E. Denina and C. Pol, (Aug 17th, 1928), in descent.
N Arête E Slope: W. B. A. Coolidge, F. Gardiner, C. and R. Almer, (Aug 19th, 1889).
E Arête: G. Bobba and E. Jeantet, (Aug 20th, 1887).
W Slope: Fleurette e Giuliano Calosci, (Jul 10th, 1940).

Getting There

Leave the Highway at "Aosta Ovest" (West), drive through Aymavilles and continue to follow the main street until you arrive in Cogne.

HOW TO REACH AOSTA:

From Italy: Milan - Novara - Ivrea - Pont-Saint-Martin - Saint Vincent - Aosta, or: Turin - Ivrea - Aosta.
From Switzerland: Bern - Montreux - Martigny - Colle del Gran San Bernardo - Aosta, or: Sion - Martigny - Col du Grand Saint Bernard - Aosta
or: Bellinzona - Lugano - Como - Milano (only direction) - Novara - Aosta.
From France (also Genève): Tunnel del Monte Bianco (toll) - Courmayeur - Aosta or (less expensive but a little longer, if you come from Genève take the tunnel!): Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo - La Thuile - Pre-Saint-Didier - Aosta.
From Austria: Brennero - Trento - Verona (only direction) - Brescia - Bergamo - Milan - Aosta.

BY PLANE:

Aeroporto Internazionale "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe: www.airvallee.com

Red Tape

No red tape.

When To Climb

Best period is from March to May to amuse a very fine ski-mountaneering trip

In summer months it becomes a fine hike, very good for "apprenticeship".

from October to February it becomes wild

Huts

Rifugio Vittorio Sella (2584 m)
Conca di Lauson (Cogne)
Tel.: 0039/0165/74310
eMail: info@rifugiosella.com
Rifugio Federico Chabod (2750 m)
Côte Savolère di Montandayné (Valsavarenche)
Tel.: 0039/0165/95574
eMail: info@rifugiochabod.com
Bivacco Leonessa (2910 m)
Upper Vallone dell'Herbetet

Camping

Wild camping in the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso is strictly forbidden!

Mountain Conditions

Webcam

WEBCAM on Aosta Valley:
Webcam

Books and Maps

BOOKS:

"Guida dei Monti d'Italia-Gran Paradiso Parco Nazionale" E. Andreis, R. Chabod, M. C. Santis, Club Alpino Italiano/Touring Club Italiano, prima Ed. 1939; seconda Ed. 1963; terza Ed. 1980.
"Guida delle Alpi Occidentali" di Giovanni Bobba e Luigi Vaccarone C.A.I. Sezione di Torino Volume II (parte II), 25 Maggio 1896.

MAPS:

Kompass "Gran Paradiso Valle d'Aosta Sentieri e rifugi" Carta turistica 1:50.000.
I.G.C. Istituto Geografico Centrale "Gran Paradiso-La Grivola-Cogne Carta 1:25.000.
I.G.M. Istituto Geografico Militare Foglio 41 1:25000: "Gran Paradiso" Cogne.
A.IA.T "Cogne Gran Paradiso-Cogne Aymavilles" Walking map 1:25.000.

Information

Società delle Guide di Cogne Tel. 347/9473526 - 328/1373728.
A.IA.T. Cogne Gran Paradis via Bourgeois n°34 Tel. 0165-74040.
Internet site: www.cogne.org 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.
A.I.NE.VA. (Associazione Interregionale Neve e Valanghe).
Bollettino Meteo (weather info) Tel. 0165-44113.
Unità Operativa di Soccorso Sanitario Tel. 118.

External Links

Sun rise at Gran Serra

Images



[ View Gallery - 45 More Images ]