Tête de l'Arietta or Pic de la Nouva

Located immediately to the West of the renowned Pass of Arietta (2.947m), between the latter and the Punta or Pointe of Miserino (3.010m) and confused by the mountainerrs Irving and Tyndale with the current Tête-de-la-Nouva calling the same Pic de la Nouva. Quoted but not named in the raised topographic I.G.M. (Italian Military Geographical Institute) in 1932, its exact name instead is Head or Tête de l'Arietta resulting as the first rocky elevation in the Southwest after the hill of the same name, is very popular both in the past which now for the famous San Besso Procession as well as for the transport of the ore iron from the Mines of Colonna to the Po Plain in Canavese (Piedmont). His ascent from the same is short and easy, but it requires attention and caution in case of wet ground, given the composition of the rocks. Good vantage point on the Vallon Urtier and on that of Rancio in Piedmont. This Summit is formed by a watershed crest between the Valle d'Aosta (Vallone della Nouva) and the Canavese in Piedmont Area (Vallons of Azaria and of Rancio); on the first of the two sides, moreover, a buttress in the shape of a great rocky snake, with smooth rock (of discontinuous difficulty in the path and subject to possible bypasses) and a leaning tooth, descends towards the NW, capable of separating the Vallone della Nouva from the adjacent one of the Miserino with its two small lakes (2.262m, 2.263m). The latter, which in fact doubles, is dominated by the homonymous peak (3.010m), in turn "connected" to the NE with the Testa dell'Arietta. The Normal Via climbs from Colle dell'Arietta along the NE Ridge, while the opposite crest, or SW, goes, with half a dozen roughnesses, to Punta del Miserino. It has no important walls, also due to the poor quality of the rock; this both as regards the Southern Side which, formed by three rocky steps alternating with as many gravel ledges, looms over the Rio del Rancio with its series of pastures, and as regards the Eastern Wall. The latter, which is nothing more than the continuation of the previous, dominates the Grange dell'Arietta (Arietta's Pastures; 2.275m) with its steep triangular wall, about 130 meters high and not yet climbed. Instead, the Northern side can be climbed as an alternative to the Via Normale with two possibilities:

 

1) - always starting from Colle dell'Arietta and gradually converging on the wall;

 

2) - going up from the Vallone dei Laghi Miserino and covering a long and boring stony ground and then joining in the upper part with the previous itinerary. In the middle climbs instead the route traced in June 2008 which, with an amusing and at times even challenging climbing, climbs between the two shields formed by reddish-bluish rocks that constitute the basal forepart; in the final part it goes directly over the pinkish-greyish rocky plates below the Top. Summit scarcely frequented despite the ease of the Normal Route or Crest NE, as well as the scarce time of climb of the route itself (0h'30).

 

 

 

 

 

2) - risalendo dal Vallone dei Laghi Miserino e percorrendo una lunga e noiosa pietraia per poi congiungersi nella parte alta con il precedente itinerario. In mezzo sale invece la via tracciata nel giugno 2008 che, con arrampicata divertente ed a tratti anche impegnativa, sale tra i due scudi formati da rocce rossicce-bluastre che costituiscono l'avancorpo basale della faccia; nella parte finale supera direttamente le placche rocciose grigiastre sottostanti la Vetta. Scarsamente frequentata nonostante la facilità della Normale o Cresta NE, nonché la brevità del percorso stesso (0h'30).

First Ascents

• First on the summit: unknown.
• In winter: unknown.
• NE Crest (Normal Via from Arietta Pass): unknown.
• West-southwest Ridge: R.L.G. Irving and H.E.G. Tyndale, (Aug 10th, 1912), in descent with traverse until Punta Miserino and Pass. In ascent (with almost complete path except two gendarmes) Osvaldo Cardellina, lone, (Jun 12th, 2008), from Pointe Miserino through Eastern Crest and Northern Face.
• N-NW Buttress ("Big Snake" Route between Testa dell'Arietta and Punta Miserino): Osvaldo Cardellina and Emilio Bertona, (Jul 28th, 2003), in ascent from Goilles Damon, Broillot Alp, Miserino Lochs with descent through Northeast Crest or Standad Via to Arietta Hill, Miserino Lakes, Broillot Pastures, Lillaz Hamlet.
• Northern Face (Normal Via from Arietta Pass or more in West variant from Miserino's Lakes): unknown.
• Northern Face (Central Direct Route on red/blue rocks between the forepart of the two rocky "shields" ): Osvaldo Cardellina, lone, (Jun 15th, 2008), in ascent from ,Lillaz, Broillot Alp, Miserino Lochs with descent through Northeast Crest or Standad Via to Arietta Hill, Miserino Lakes, Broillot Pastures, Lillaz Hamlet.

Getting There

BY CAR:

• From Torino, Milano, etc: Motorway A5. Exit at Ivrea or Quincinetto (Piedmont). From Ivrea Town: before in West (Southern side) to Pont Saint Martin, Verrès, Saint Vincent, Chatillon, Nus, Aosta West (near Aymavilles) Municipalities; after from this last towards Cogne Valley in Southeast until Cogne.

BY PLANE:

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

Specific Road

• From Cogne Resort: in East-southeast towards Lillaz Fraction; from this last towards Urtier Vallon.
• From Aosta City before in West towards Aymavilles, after towards Vieyes, Epinel, Crétaz Hamlets until Cogne Common; from this last towards Lillaz Hamlet and Urtier's Valley.

Approach and Route

 

 

By Lillaz reach the fork about 2.580 meters between Peradzà Bassa and Gratton Coastlines and Nouvas/Miserino Vallons: from junction of paths n° 13/13B-13C go up by South direction passing the Peradzà Bassa and Gratton Coastline as far as the fork 2.580 meters around, under the quota 2.461m; from crossroads, leaving right (South-southwest) the path n° 13C towards Miserino Lakes, continue by left ramification or path n° 13B, VA (Aosta Valley Tour). Afterwards changing in South-southeast direction (rare yellow signs in existence), go up on grassy humps and rocky promontory, between Peradzà Bassa (Lower; in East) and Nouva Little Valley in right, coming contra the with same name point also head, in quota 2.850 meters about. From this point, abandon the "slender" track to East-southeast, crossed of Nouva Head the entire Northern Slope, and, by South direction, border completely the of same West Wall. Always through the very ancient mule-track, go up, by progressive more steep hairpins bend and with path less and less thick and more and more subject to landslips, up to contra its face (from this rocks falls danger); continue, through a large, inclined and rubble ledge, crossing of wall completely the base, by to Nouva Valley exposed great ribbings (much delicate hard snowfields extant). At last, by a below the face about thirty meters in descent traverse, reach the great boulder under the pass (niche in the shape of shelter and suitable for "salle à manger" (food place), under the rocky cliff; by blue, polished and slippery rocks briefly to pass (2.947m; EE/F; EEA/F+ snowfields extant; 1h'45/2h'00 from fork 2.580m~; 2h'30 from Broillot Pasture; 2h'15/2h'30 from Sogno di Berdzé Refuge; 4h'30/5h'00 from Lillaz Village). By the narrow carving of the hill climb through easy bluish rocks, rounded and smooth towards the just above tiny bell; from this continue on the thread of the Northeast Ridge through stacked boulders or bypassing some short right section to the right (West) easily and quickly reaching the Summit. (EE/F/F+; 0h'30 from pass).

 

 

Difficulties

This route can be considered EE/EEA/F/F+.

 

L'itinerario è classificato EE/EEA/F/F+.

Equipment

For Hiking or Mountaineering; with rope, ice-axe and crampons in snow presence.

 

Da Escursionismo od Alpinismo; con corda, piccozza e ramponi se con neve.

Campings

There are plenty of camping sites along the Gran Paradiso valleys. Remember that free camping is forbidden (except for emergency reasons, over 2.500m, from darkness until dawn).