Page Type:
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Route |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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45.79461°N / 7.73344°E |
Route Type:
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Hiking |
Season:
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Summer, Fall |
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Time Required:
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A long day |
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Difficulty:
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EE |
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Trail description
Corno Bussola is not visible from Car Park and Estoul, because is located behind Monte Chiappa and Punta di Guà ridge.
Step one: head to Bieteron southern slopes where the longest chairlift ends. From car park, follow trail n. 5. (it's a kind of unpaved road). Follow "Rifugio Arp" direction. It takes about 1 hour to get at the highest side of Estoul basin (Case Palasina, 2094 mt.).
Always on trail 5 forward to the Palasina basin, leaving Monte Bieteron rightside. A very long traverse on an unpaved road, brings to a "yellow panels pole". If you booked at Arp Hotel/Hut, go ahead on unpaved road. Forward left, always on trail 5 to get directly Alpe Palasina and then at Battaglia Lakes, the biggest and most spectacular water basin in Palasina area.
From Battaglia Lakes there are several tracks to other lakes: n.3,n.4 and n.105 for Pocia Lake, Lungo Lake and Bringuez Lake. Very interesting follow n.4 trail to Col Palasina, then turn left (W direction) for a minor summit ("Punta del Lago" in some maps) if your goal is to reach Corno Bussola via ridge. Once passed Punta del Lago summit there are a couple of passage only for expert hiker. It is possible to reach Corno Bussola summit via Palasina northern watershed, but take care of some rocky passages and long way scrambling without any traced path (not recomended for elementar climbing passages, but very aereal and spectacular).
Best way for Corno Bussola is to go ahead on trail "3c" toward Pocia lake, then WNW direction, leaving lake Lungo down rightside (2h30min) far from footpath. Forward on a steep slope with landslide flanks to get to Passo Bussola (3h). This traverse could be very slippery in early season for iced snow (N exposition, crossing to Passo Bussola direction).
Without snow there are no further difficulties. A fixed steel rope, helps to pass a steep rocky jump situated beyond Passo Bussola. It takes about half-an-hour to hike the last, very steep indeed, but never dangerous slope to Corno Bussola summit (3h30min). A wonderful sightseen on Matterhorn, Monte Rosa group and all other major Aostan peaks is served: enjoy!
Getting There
This trail begins at car park in Estoul. Follow instructions in main Corno Bussola page.Waypoints table
| # | Waypoint | Lat | Long | Q.osl |
| 1 | Car Park in Estoul | N 45.758527 | E 7.769861 | ab. 1815 m. |
| 2 | Case Palasina | N 45.769472 | E 7.763694 | 2094 m. |
| 3 | End of traverse under Bieteron (yellow panels fork) | N 45.780416 | E 7.77475 | ab. 2200 m. |
| 4 | Alpe Palasina | N 45.7850 | E 7.770583 | 2406 m. |
| 5 | Laghi della Battaglia (trail passage) | N 45.789138 | E 7.759222 | 2487 m. |
| 6 | Lago Pocia (trail passage) | N 45.790944 | E 7.75333 | 2518 m. |
| 7 | Colle Bussola (Pass) | N 45.792722 | E 7.741194 | 2824 m. |
| 8 | Corno Bussola summit | N 45.794611 | E 7.733444 | 3023 m. |
| os | Rifugio Arp | N 45.78725 | E 7.777111 | 2446 m. |
Legenda:
Waypoint numbers are in logical sequence
os = out of sequence. This waypoint is significant for this area, but not directly involved in route description.