Grande Traversière

Grande Traversière

Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 45.52320°N / 7.05597°E
Additional Information County: Aosta Valley
Additional Information Elevation: 11470 ft / 3496 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

La Grande Traversiére <i>(3.496m)</i> e la Punta Bassac sud <i>(3.461m)</i>
Important mountain with nice structura that rise up with a steep flanks above the Val di Rhêmes. It is situated along the crest watershed, that separates from North to the South the Valgrisenche Valley from the Val di Rhêmes. In the past it was mostly covered of glaciers, but there actually remains only the last called "Bassac Glacier", placed on the Northwest side of the mountain. The almost extinguished glaciers on the east side, are called Northern, Central and Southern Glaciers of Traversiere. It is a little striking mountain if seen from near because hidden from its rocky spurs, especially above the Comba di Goletta. It's mostly composed by bad quality rocks (strange green color called serpentino in same parts, now most more and more progressively degraded), and this renders it little attractive from a climbing target. But it's high Summit is a good panoramic point on this part of Graie Alps. Over the pricipale summit, others 3 distinguished peaks are part of this mountain: Punta Bassac Derè (3.356m), Punta Bassac Sud (3.461m), Punta Bassac Nord (3.387m).
Pano from Granta Parei.

Montagna piuttosto importante con una notevole struttura che sorge su un fianco ripido sopra la Val di Rhêmes. Si trova lungo spartiacque, che separa da Nord a Sud la Valgrisenche dall'attigua Val di Rhêmes. In passato era per lo più ricoperta da ghiacciai, dei quali ma rimane solo l'ultimo chiamato "Ghiacciaio Bassac", posto sul lato Nordoccidentale della montagna. I ghiacciai quasi estinti ad Oriente, sono denominati Ghiacciai Settentrionale, Centrale e Meridionale di Traversiere. È una piccola montagna sorprendente se vista da vicino, perché nascosta dai suoi speroni rocciosi, soprattutto sopra la Comba di Goletta. Risulta per lo più composta da rocce di qualità scadente (strano colore verde chiamato Serpentino che fuoriesce in diverse parti stratificate, oggigiorno sempre più in stato di progressivo degrado), e questo lo rende poco attraente siccome obiettivo di arrampicata. Ma il vertice è un buon punto panoramico in questa parte nella cerchia delle Graie Alps. Sulle cime primarie, altri 3 picchi distinti sono parte di questo monte: Punta Bassac Derè (3.356 m), Punta Bassac Meridionale (3.461 m), Punta Bassac Settentrionale (3.387 m).

How to get there

  • FROM ITALY: From Valgrisenche From the motorway A5 Montebianco (from Geneve, Turin, Milan), take the exit Aosta Ovest and follow the direction to Arvier-Valgrisenche. From Val di Rhêmes From the motorway A5 Montebianco (from Geneve, Turin, Milan), take the exit Aosta Ovest and follow the direction to Villeneuve-Val di Rhêmes.
  • FROM FRANCE: From Val d'Isere From the village of Val d'Isere, enter in the area called "Reserve Naturelle de la Grande Sassiere". From here, few routes, through Col de Rhêmes, Golette and Col de la Tsanteleina, permit to reach the Italian side at the foot of this mountain.
  • FROM OTHERS PARTS: Is possible to reach the Aosta Valley also through the: France-pass of Piccolo St. Bernardo (closed in winter). France-Tunnel of Mont Blanc. Swiss-Tunnel of Grand St. Bernardo. Swiss-pass of Grand St. Bernardo (closed in winter).
 
from Lago di San Martino

First ascents history

  • Southwest Ridge: Giovanni Bobba and Casimiro Thérisod, (July 16th, 1899).
  • North Ridge: William Auguste Brevoort Coolidge and Christian Almer Junior, (August 24th, 1885).
  • Northwest Wall: Aldo and Ester Bonacossa, (July 13th, 1926).
  • North-northeast Face and North Crest (Mixed Variant): Osvaldo Cardellina and Luigi Gadin, (June 27th, 1985).
  • East Ridge: Giovan Battista Bozzino, (July 14th, 1909).

Routes

  • Southwest Ridge -From Refuge Bezzi and Glacier of Bassac. The most safe and usual route. (difficult PD).
  • Southeast Flank - From Refuge Benevolo and the rest of Central Glacier of Traversière. Usual route from Val di Rhêmes. Easy but not very safe cause unstable rocks. (difficult F+).
  • North Ridge - From Col Bassac. Not very safe climb on bad rocks. (difficult AD/II°-III°).
  • Northeast Flank - From Refuge Benevolo and the rest of Northern Glacier of Traversière. (difficult PD+/45°).
  • North-northeast Face and North Crest (Variant): difficult AD-/AD/45°).
  • East Ridge - From Refuge Benevolo. (difficult III°/IV°).
Grande Traversière seen from Becca della Traversière.

Routes of minor tops

  • Punta BASSAC NORD (3.387m): South Ridge: From Colle Bassac (diff. F+).
  • Northeast Flank: From Glacier of Truc Blanc (diff. F+).
  • Punta BASSAC SUD (3.461m): Northeast Ridge: From Central Glacier of Traversière (diff. II°).
  • Southern Ridge: From Southern Glacier of Traversière (diff. II°/III°).
  • Western Face (Direct Route) to Northern Top: Osvaldo Cardellina, lone; October 27th, 1996. In ascent from Thumel (diff. PD+/AD-/PD-/45°/50/40°).
  • Punta BASSAC DERE'(3.352m): Northeast Wall: From Southern Glacier of Traversière (diff. PD+).
  • West Flank: From Glacier of Bassac (diff. PD+).
  • South Ridge: From Refuge Bezzi (diff. III°/IV°).
The Ref. Benevolo.

Campings

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

Mountain Conditions

  • Meteo: you can find all the needed informations at the official site of the Valle d'Aosta Region:
  • Valle d'Aosta Meteo

Webcam

  • WEBCAM on Aosta Valley:
  • Webcam

Books and Maps

BOOKS:

  • "Il Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso (Valli Soana-Orco-Rhêmes-Valgrisenche)" di Giulio Berutto, I.G.C. Torino 1979.
  • "Guida dei Monti d'Italia – Alpi Graie Centrali" di Alessandro Giorgetta - Club Alpino Italiano/Touring Club Italiano, 1985 (in Italian).

MAPS:

  • Kompass "Gran Paradiso Valle d'Aosta Sentieri e Rifugi" Carta turistica 1:50.000.
  • L'Escursionista "Valgrisenche Val di Rhêmes" Carta dei sentieri (n° 3) 1:25.000.
  • Enrico Editore Ivrea-Aosta "Gruppo del Gran Paradiso" 1:50.000.
  • I.G.C. Istituto Geografico Centrale "Valsavarenche-Valle di Rhêmes-Valgrisenche" Carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi (carta n° 102) 1:25.000.

Important Information

Useful Numbers

  • Protezione Civile Valdostana località Aeroporto n°7/A Saint Christophe (Ao) Tel. 0165-238222.
  • Bollettino Meteo (weather info) Tel. 0165-44113.
  • Unità Operativa di Soccorso Sanitario Tel. 118.