A valley too busy. Surely it is the walloon, almost a valley, the most popular of the whole Val de Cogne or at least the most characteristic. Indeed, even if Lillaz, at least in the summer, knows a large influx, for Valnontey this fact occurs throughout the year. The
"Marciagranparadiso" reaches them both, but while
"touches" the first,
"wraps" the second completely. In summer, however, are the masters of the Horses, offering great walks, starting and arriving in a few tourist stall. But his true calling is another; its essence is Mountaineering. Big and beautiful mountains unfold from East to West, where end with the slender pyramids of Grivola and Gran Nomenon. If it goes to Gimillan Dzimillan or you can see it all. Without even paying a cent or, if you like, a dollar. Start on the left with the tracks of downhill skiing under the Montseuc and above the beautiful forest of Sylvenoire. Then, slowly, goes forming pyramids of Fenilia, of Vermiana and Valletta. Here begin the ice that spread at the foot of Pointe Tsissettaz and two Punte Patrì. Then
"explodes" the Chain of the Apostles with the Towers of Sant'Orso, St. Andrea and Gran San Pietro, now the border with Piedmont. With a turn off and the patient reaches the watershed Becco of the Pazienza, the Roccia Viva and, down there down, Becca of Gay. The name makes it clear to us that we are increasingly projected towards this region. But the three North Walls, with their steep chutes, remind us that we are always on the ground Aosta Valley, with its glaciers that reach from Money Grand Crou to turn into a massive flood with the upset of the Tribolazione (Tribulation) Glacier. At the foot of the Punta Ceresole, but especially those in the Gran Paradiso, which falls on the same with his beautiful and icy East Wall. From here the watershed with the adjacent Valsavarenche drops very long towards the North, reaching the first Herbetet then La Grivola and Gran Nomenon, where
"dies" over the Central Valley of Dora Baltea. Here, as in Savarenche, to see the top you have to
"get out" from population centers: one discovers gradually that you follow the valley that goes to his heart, like a big wedge. Or go upwards to Gimillan Hamlet. The Bivouacs of Money, Martinotti, Borghi, Gerard-Grappein and Pol
"heartened" a little the Mountaineers should expect great labors. But on this side of the
"Granpa" not allowed" so easily and you should ask the pass bypassing the Roc to put your foot on the Glacier of the Gran Paradiso, on the Normal Way from Valsavara, passing through the Vittorio Emanuele II° Refuge. Or face hard walls or walk along the long ridge that rises North by Piccolo (Little) Paradiso. Here nothing is given to you, even if you face the first easy excursions to the beginning:
they are long and require good hocks ...
Valnontey, by p-mike
The Vallons most important & the recommended Excursions (19)
1)- Valnontey Hamlet, Vermiana Alpage
(1674m, 1729m): Walk with path in South to the Pasture at the beginning of Valnontey Vallon (
T/F; 0h'40/0h'50).
2)- Vermiana Alp, fork before Eurfalets Bridge (about 1800 metres, 1826m): Excursion-Climbing from Valnontey Village with path in Southeast through Comba Couteleina towards Money Alp and Bivouac
(2334m, 2872m), below Southern Punte Patrì and Patrì/Coupè de Money Glaciers (
EE/A/F+; 3h'15/3h'30).
3)- Vermiana Alp: Excursion-Climbing from Valnontey Village before with path in South, after pathless through Comba Valletta towards Tsissettaz or Cissetta Glacier and Punta
(3417m), by North Slope (
A/F+; 4h'00/4h'30).
4)- Money Bivouac: Excursion-Climbing from bivouac with traverse in Northeast to Patrì Pass
(3359m) (
A/PD/PD+; 4h'00/4h'15).
5)- Money Bivouac: Climbing from bivouac to South and North Punte Patrì
(3579m, 3558m), by Northwest Face right side, above Patrì Glacier (
A/PD+/AD; 3h'15/3h'45).
6)- Money Bivouac: Climbing bivouac, crossing Coupé de Money Glacier to Pass
(3383m) and Sant'Orso Tower
(3610m), by West-northwest Face (
A/PD-; 3h'15/3h'30).
7)- Money Bivouac: Climbing bivouac, crossing Coupé de Money and Money Glaciers to Gran San Pietro Tower
(3691m) by West-northwest Face and crossing (
Apostles Great Traverse) to Sant'Andrea Southern and Northern, Sant'Orso Tower
(3640m, 3643m, 3610m) (
A/PD-/PD+; 5h'30/6h'30).
8)- Alessandro Martinotti Bivouac: Excursion before in South from Valnontey towards Eurfalets Bridge
(1825m-1846m) along Valnontey Torrent, after in Southeast towards Alessandro Martinotti Bivouac (
2588m), below Roccia Viva, Becca di Gay and two Eastern Gran Crou Glaciers (
EE/F; 3h'00/3h'15).
9)- Alessandro Martinotti Bivouac: Climbing from bivouac to Low Gran Crou Glacier and crossing in South Hanging Gran Crou Glacier, by West-northwest Spur (avoiding initially with workarounds on Southern side, and after completely in edge) of Roccia Viva
(3383m) or Standard Route by Cogne (
A/F+PD-; 5h'00/5h'30).
10)- Alessandro Martinotti Bivouac: Climbing from bivouac to Lower Gran Crou Glacier and crossing in South Hanging Gran Crou Glacier, by West-northwest "Crestone" on Northwest Wall of Roccia Viva in parallel to the North than the Standard Route (
A/PD+/AD+/AD-; 6h'15/6h'30).
On Carlo Pol Bivouac with Becca di Gay & Gran Crou Glacier, by Gianni Junod
11)- Stefano Borghi Bivouac: Excursion in South from Valnontey towards Eurfalets Bridge
(1825m-1846m) along Valnontey Torrent to Stefano Borghi Bivouac (
2684m), on Gran Crou Western Glacier below Roccia Viva western Face and Becca di Gay Northern Wall (
EE/F; 3h'15/3h'30).
12)- Stefano Borghi Bivouac: crossing in South Gran Crou Glacier to North Wall of Becca di Gay
(3609m), by icy Central Gully direct to Top (
A/D-; 5h'30/6h'30).
13)- Stefano Borghi Bivouac: crossing in South Gran Crou Glacier to Gran Crou Pass
(3305m), by West Ridge of Becca di Gay or Normal from Cogne (
A/D-; 5h'00/5h'30).
14)- Carlo Pol and Ettore Grappein-Marcello Gerard Bivouacs: Excursion in South from Valnontey towards Eurfalets Bridge
(1825m-1846m) before along Valnontey Torrent with path and after with traces on hanging rocky promontory to two bivouacs (
3183m), near
"Barma des Bouquetins" at the beginning of Ghiacciaio della Tribolazione (
A/F+; 5h'00/5h'30).
15)- Carlo Pol and Grappein-Gerard Bivouacs: Crossing in South on Glacier de la Tribolazione to Punta di Ceresole
(3777m), through North Slope (
A/F+; 2h'30/3h'00).
16)- Carlo Pol and Grappein-Gerard Bivouacs: Crossing South on glacier to Cresta Gastaldi
(3883m), Col de l'Abeille
(3873m), by North Slope (
A/F+; 2h'40/3h'10).
17)- Col de l'Abeille (3873m): Clinbing in West, through East Face and Eastern
"Crestone", to Roc del Gran Paradiso
(4026m) and traverse towards the Gran Paradiso
(4061m), through Normal Route on South Slope by Gran Paradiso Glacier (Valsavarenche Via from Vittorio Emanuele II° Refuge) (
A/F+; 1h'15/1h'30).
18)- Carlo Pol and Grappein-Gerard Bivouacs: Crossing in West-southwest on Tribulation Glacier to East icy Face Gran Paradiso
(4061m) (
A/AD/AD+; 4h'30/5h'00).
19)- Carlo Pol and Grappein-Gerard Bivouacs: Crossing in West on Tribolazione Glacier to East icy Face Piccolo Paradiso Northern and Southern Summits
(N or Punta Farrar 3925m, S or Méridional 3926m) and traverse towards Col du Petit Paradis
(3870m) and final part through indented Nort-northeast Ridge (
A/PD/PD+; 5h'30/7h'00).
Climbing on icy Northwestern Face of Punte Patrì, by Ilario Antonio Garzotto
Un vallone anche troppo frequentato. Sicuramente é il vallone, quasi una valle, più frequentato dell'intera Val de Cogne o perlomeno il più caratterizzante. Infatti anche se la Frazione di Lillaz, almen in estate, conosce un grande afflusso, per Valnontey questo fatto si verifica per tutto l'anno. La
"Marciagranparadiso" le raggiunge entrambe, ma, mentre
"sfiora" la prima,
"avvolge" completamente la seconda. In estate invece la fan da padroni i Cavalli, che propongono grandi passeggiate, partendo ed arrivando tra qualche bancarella turistica. Ma la sua vera vocazione é altra; la sua essenza é Alpinistica. Grandi e belle montagne si dispiegano da Oriente ad Occidente, dove terminano con le slanciate piramidi della Grivola e del Gran Nomenon. Se si và a Gimillan o Dzimillan si può ammirar il tutto. Senza neppure pagare un centesimo o, se volete, un dollaro. Inizia a sinistra con le piste di Sci da discesa sotto il Montseuc e sopra il bel bosco di Sylvenoire. Poi, pian piano, sale formando le piramidi della Fenilia, di Vermiana e Valletta. Qui iniziano i ghiacci che s'allargano ai piedi della Tsissettaz e delle Patrì. Poi
"esplode" la Catena degli Apostoli con le Torri di Sant'Orso, Sant'Andrea e del Gran San Pietro, ormai al confine con il Piemonte. Con un giro largo e paziente lo spartiacque raggiunge il Becco della Pazienza, la Roccia Viva e laggiù, in fondo, la Becca di Gay. Il nome ci fà capire che siam sempre più proiettati verso questa regione. Ma le tre Pareti Nord, con i loro ripidissimi scivoli, ci ricordano che siamo sempre in terra valdostana, con i suoi ghiacciai che da Money raggiungon quelli di Grand Crou per tramutarsi in un'immane fiumana con lo sconvolto Ghiacciaio della Tribolazione. Ai piedi della Punta di Ceresole, ma, soprattutto, a quelli del Gran Paradiso, che scende sopra il medesimo con la sua bella e ghiacciata Parete Est. Da qui lo spartiacque con l'adiacente Valsavarenche scende lunghissimo verso Settentrione raggiungendo dapprima l'Herbetet e poi La Grivola ed il Gran Nomenon, dove
"muore" sopra la Valle Centrale della Dora Baltea. Anche qui, come nella Savarenche, per veder la cima devi
"uscire" dai centri abitati: si scopre a poco a poco che tu segui la valle dirigentesi verso il suo cuore, come un grande cuneo. Oppure vai sù a Gimillan. I Bivacchi di Money, Martinotti, Borghi, Gerard-Grappein e Pol
"rincuorano" un pò gli Alpinisti che debbon aspettarsi grandi faticate. Ma da questa parte il
"Granpa" non si concede" sì facilmente e devi chiedere il lasciapassare scavalcando il Roc per mettere piede sul Ghiacciaio del Gran Paradiso, sulla Via Normale da Valsavara dall'Emanuele II°. Oppure affronti ostiche pareti o percorri la lunga Cresta Nord che sale dal Piccolo. Qui nulla viene a te regalato, anche se affronti le prime facili escursioni all'inizio:
son lunghe e richiedono buoni garretti ...
On Sant'Orso Tower of Apostles, by Ilario Antonio GarzottoLauson Tableland
"My friend, let's go to Punta Rossa?", by Osw
Friendship doing with Ibex. When you climb the Rifugio Vittorio Sella with that mule full of people, which increases even more the level of dust, you know you're coming out of the Gran Paradiso. If you mean by this term that sea of ice that extends in a large district that goes from Punta Tsissettaz Gran Serra or Grand Sertz. The long North Buttress coming down from the Summit to form four elevations of the Piccolo Paradiso, the Herbetet and Grand Sertz slopes with other top seeds unknown
reaching the Col Lauson or Lauzon. This opens up a new world,
"more Human". What you see above? No, only those at the top to
"Granpa", indeed even because they are hidden behind the Madonna, hidden from the true Top. But here you go back to normality with a multitude of people. Even too much. And you can also see many animals. In every sense. Everywhere marmots, chamois and ibex in herds that approach even up to two/three metres. Then blow with the nostrils to make it clear to you that you are bothering them and turn away from the Lake of the Lauson then move towards the Pastures of Herbetet, well below the Leonessa Bivouac. The close Col Lauson, over there in front and bottom of the walloon, awaits the masses, who, arriving punctually from Valnontey and Eaux Rousses Valsavarenche. Yes, because in the end we are still in Valnontey, two steps from Cogne, and this our subdivision is completely arbitrary. Hopefully it will not get upset the Mayor and its
"Cogneins", inhabitants. Why, speaking tourists, this is the place that
"attracts more". Then come Lillaz and Gimillan. Only that there are those who want to eat
"polenta" (mash of cornmeal with chamois) and suede or lie in the sun on the terrace of Dzimillan to enjoy a coffee watching the postcard of Valnontey, that unfolds in the face. At best, ranging upward to fish to the Lakes Lussert or the Corona, but they come in a few; because my friend Antonio looks at them in the wrong way. If you make noise fish remain hidden and are not older. And that Antonio knows him well, for which thing, if they ask for road travel time, it doubles. So almost all come back. But if the
"run" just bad,
"pas des problèmes". Salt Lakes of Middle, Upper and High, where everyone disappear. Every now and then, out of desperation, continues towards Col des Laures. Those who goes to Lillaz, in addition to eating well, he went to see the Falls, arrives at the great boulder at the beginning of Valeille or, just walk, go to the Refuge
"Sogno di Berdzé" ("Dream by Shepherd"). Some brave and
"desperate" climb the ice falls, there are also Valnontey. However, coming back to us, if you want to go out when you're at Sella Shelter from the slopes of the mass is not a problem. Bypasses the hills of the Nera or the Rossa and you face the
"La Grivola Bella" by Giosuè Carducci, in a large balcony above the Glacier Trayo or Trajo and still Traso and in a flash reach the Punta Rossa or even the Grivola. If you own the big problems and you are a little misanthropic, go left upwards to the wild walloon that leads to the Grand Sertz or, worse, you make a buck from large camel and join the Leonessa Bivouac. At the foot of The Herbetet and Becca of Montandayné. But you are a person who has great existential problems. Then, finally, we have already met the
"Crazy People" that there are in a day from Valnontey. Perhaps under a beautiful and heavy snowfall.
It also managed to arrive ...
From Lauson Lake ..., by Maria Grazia Schiapparelli
The Vallons most important & the recommended Excursions (10)
1)- Valnontey Hamlet, Vittorio Sella Shelter
(1674m, 2579m): Walk-Excursion with path-muletrack in Westsouthwest towards
"Alpine Gardner Paradisia", Waterfall
1991 metres, Toule Pasture
(2111m) and Gran Lauson Alpages
(2506m), Casotto P.N.G.P. and refuge, at the beginning of Lauson Tableland (
T/E/F; 1h'40/2h'00).
2)- Vittorio Sella Refuge: Walk-Excursion
"Tour of Herbetet" with path-muletrack in South towards two Lauson Ponds
(2655m, 2636m), Penna Sengia
(2660m), Grand Vallon, Plan de Resellaz
(2526m), l'Herbetet Alp
(2441m), Casotto P.N.G.P.
(2395m) and descent to fork
2060 metres over Valnontey Torrent (
T/E/F; 2h'00/2h'30).
3)- L'Herbetet Alp, Casotto P.N.G.P.: Excursion with
a)- muletrack-path before in West-northwest, after Southwest towards Lionello and Lucio Leonessa Bivouac
(2910m). Or from
b)- Valnontey, Vermiana, Pont des Eurfalets, fork
2060 metres, Herbetet Alp also called
"Casolari dell'Herbetet" (
EE/F; 4h'30/5h'30 and by b)-
3h'45/4h'15).
4)- Lionello and Lucio Leonessa Bivouac: Climbing from bivouac in Southwest, through saddle
3272 metres, crossing Tsasset Glacier, passing in East under Fenêtre de Tsasset
(3673m), to Becca di Montandayné
(3840m), by Northeast Face or Normal Route by Cogne (
A/F+/PD-; 3h'45/4h'15).
5)- Leonessa Bivouac: Climbing from bivouac in West, through Eastern Crest of Herbetet
(3778m), or Standard Route by Cogne (
A/PD-/PD; 3h'30/4h'00).
6)- Sella Refuge: Climbing pathless in Southwest through Lauson, Grand Vallon Glaciers to Gran Serra or Sertz
(3553m) by Northeast Face (
A/F+; 3h'30/4h'00).
7)- Sella Refuge: Excursion with path-muletrack in West towards Lauson or Loson Hill
(3296m), between Pointe du Tuf/Becca de Vermianaz (
T/E/F; 1h'45/2h'15).
8)- Sella Refuge: Climbing before with path in Northwest, after traces through moraines to Col de la Noire
(3487m), by South-southeast Slope (
EE/A/F+; 2h'15/2h'45). Crossing possibilities to Punta Nera and Bianca
(3683m, 3787m), by Northeast Ridge or in right to Punta Rossa
(3625m), by Northwest Face (
A/F+; both 1h'00/1h'15).
9)- Sella Refuge: Climbing before with path in Northwest to fork
3094 metres, after North to Rossa Hill
(3190m), by South Slope (
EE/F+; 2h'15/2h'45). Crossing possibility to Punta Rossa
(3625m), doubling right East Wall connecting with North-northeast Ridge in altitude
3364 metres (Route from Gratton Bivouac) (
EE/A/F+; 1h'30/1h'45).
10)- Sella Refuge: Excursion before with path in Northeast to Tête Crocheneuille
(2638m), after North with traverse to saddle
2492 metres, between Monte Herban
(3001m) and Pointe-de-l'Ouille
(2522m) (
E/F; 1h'30/1h'45). Chance to get both the Tops by the Northeast Slope (Herban) or South Crest of l'Ouille (
EE/F+; calculate 1h'30 more).
Facendo Amicizia con gli Stambecchi. Quando si sale al Rifugio Vittorio Sella con quella mulattiera piena di gente, che aumenta ancor più il livello della polvere, capisci che stai uscendo dal Gran Paradiso. Se per questo termine tu intendi quel mare di ghiacci che s'estende in un grande circondario che và dalla Punta Tsissetta alla Gran Serra o Grand Sertz. Il lungo Contrafforte Settentrionale che scende dalla Sommità formando le quattro elevazioni del Piccolo Paradiso, l'Herbetet ed il Grand Sertz digrada con altre cime semi sconosciute raggiungendo il Col Lauson o Lauzon. Qui s'apre un nuovo mondo, "più Umano". Cosa vedi in precedenza? Nessuno, solo quelli in vetta al "Granpa", anzi neppur loro perché son nascosti dietro la Madonnina, occultati dalla vera Sommità. Qui invece si torna alla Normalità con una infinità di Gente. Anche troppa. E si vedono anche molti Animali. In tutti i sensi. Marmotte dappertutto, camosci a branchi e stambecchi che s'avvicinano anche fino a due o tre metri. Poi soffian con le narici per farti capire che li stai disturbando e s'allontanano verso il Laghetto del Lauson per poi indirizzarsi verso i pascoli dell'Herbetet, ben sotto il Bivacco Leonessa. Lo stretto Col Lauson, laggiù davanti ed in fondo al vallone, attende le masse, che, puntualmente arrivano da Valnontey e da Eaux Rousses in Valsavarenche. Si, perché alla fin fine siamo ancora nella Valnontey, a due passi da Cogne, e questa nostra suddivisione risulta completamente arbitraria. Speriamo che non si arrabbin il Sindaco ed i "Cogneins". Perché, turisticamente parlando, questo è il posto che "tira di più". Poi vengon Lillaz e Gimillan. Soltanto che là van quelli che voglion mangiar polenta e camoscio oppure stendersi al sole sui dehors di Dzimillan per gustarsi un buon caffé guardando la cartolina della Valnontey, dispiegantesi a fronte. Al massimo van sù a pescare ai Laghi Lussert od al Corona, ma arrivan pochi; perché il mio amico Antonio li guarda in malo modo. Se fan baccano i pesci rimangono nascosti e non vengon sù. E questo Antonio lo sà bene, per la qual cosa, se gli chiedon per strada il tempo di percorrenza, lo raddoppia. Così tornan quasi tutti indietro. Ma se gli "gira" proprio male, "pas des problèmes". Sale ai Laghi di Mezzo, di Sopra e Alto, dove spariscon proprio tutti. Ogni tanto, per disperazione, continua verso il Col des Laures. Chi invece và a Lillaz, oltre a mangiar bene, si reca a veder le Cascate, arriva al gran masso all'inizio della Valeille oppure, pochi a piedi, vanno al Rifugio "Sogno di Berdzé" o "Sogno del Pastore". Alcuni "bravi e disperati" salgon le belle cascate di ghiaccio, che ci sono pur in Valnontey. Però, tornando a noi, se quando sei al Sella vuoi uscir dalle piste della massa non é un problema. Scavalchi i Colli della Nera oppure della Rossa e ti trovi davanti "La Grivola Bella" di Giosuè Carducci, in un grande balcone al di sopra del Ghiacciaio del Trayo o del Trajo ed ancora del Traso e in un attimo raggiungi la Punta Rossa od addirittura la Grivola. Se proprio hai dei grandi problemi e sei un pò misantropo, vai a sinistra sù pel selvaggio vallone che conduce al Grand Sertz o, peggio, ti fai 'na bella cammellata e raggiungi il Bivacco Leonessa. Ai piedi dell'Herbetet e della Montandayné. Ma sei già persona con grandi problemi esistenziali. Poi, per finir, abbiam già incontrato dei "Mattacchioni" che lì ci van in giornata da Valnontey. Magari sotto fitta nevicata. E vi son anche arrivati ...
"Facing to Trajo Glacier", by Silvia MazzaniVermiana-Pousset-Trajo-Nomenon's small Valleys
This is a place for "Men hardened", by ronfo
"These are places to Ghosts, Spirits & Devils". f you meet someone upward around here
or is a Poor Man who is lost, or an Adventurer with A capital. You may not jokes but also, if it is true that you're Wandering around here. Forget the first walloon that rises to the Pastures of Pousset. This is a safe area, suitable for hikers who climb from Epinel or Crétaz. But in the first case the crossing of the forest of the Grand Bois, with those trees that seems to speak, and the next Phantom of Pousset Lower Alp, with the splendid
"Rascards" wooden totally abandoned, some small thrill already do arise. Then above all opens up and you can go to the ancient Punta of Pousset, looming on Epinel, Crétaz and also Cogne. Passing amid large, isolated and lazy ibex, lying on the path, which hardly allow to clear the passage. Higher up, but painfully far away, we find the Bivouac Gratton that allows us an easy journey to Punta Rossa watching Grivola and reconnecting us with the old road that comes from the saddle. Yes, because then this is not merely a continuation of the Lauson Tableland; is only
"turned" more to the North and the middle there is the grassy Monte Herban, accompanied by the blade Rocky Pointe-de-l'Ouille. What a contrast! Everything above Cogne. But farther to the Southwest the music changes: a harsh and desolate vallon rises against Glacier Trayo under the
"Arete des Clochettes" or the Northeast, the North Ridge in the guise of a
"Scimitar" and the beautiful Northeast wall between the two, it stops forcing him to turn to the West. The terrain becomes lunar and the terminal Trayo Pass, with its rocks and crumbling ocher, opens between the homonymous Top and Punta Crevasse with opposite the
"Transylvanian" Cathedral Grand Nomenon. The environment becomes spectral and only Gontier Bivouac, naively lying between green meadows, a little reassured by contrast the looming seracs of the Grivola, the jagged spiers of Nomenon certainly inhabited by Devils, and the Ocean of stones coming down from the Passes Belleface and Charbonnière. The descent down to Sylvenoire is in tune with that little path everything turns, as the spiral stairs of Notre-Dame. Imagine us the climb.
Ah, let's not forget the vipers that found down even in the country, rolled up on the roadside, now paved, of Sylvenoire ...
"Do not come here. These are not places for Human ...", by GranPa215
The Vallons most important & the recommended Excursions (17)
Vermiana-Pousset Vallons
1)- Crétaz Hamlet
(1494m): Excursion before with path in Southwest to Ronc, Les Ors Dèsott and Dessus, Vermiana Dèsott
(1663m, 1944m, 2052m, 2093m) Pastures, after Southeast to saddle
2492 metres, between Monte Herban
(3001m) and Pointe-de-l'Ouille
(2522m) (
E/F; 1h'30/1h'45). Chance to get both the Tops by the Northeast Slope (Herban) or South Crest of l'Ouille (
EE/F+; calculate 1h'30 more).
2)- Epinel Hamlet (1436m): Excursion before with path in South to Pianes
(1694m) Pastures, after Southeast, crossing Grand Bois, to Eyfiè and Lower Pousset Alpages
(1950m, 2176m), below Pointe Pousset
(3045m) (
T/E/F; 1h'45/2h'15).
3)- Pousset Inferiore Alps (2176m): Excursion before with path in Southwest to Upper o Superiore Pousset
(2520m) Alpages and following fork
2669 metres; after in Northwest with more small path to Pointe Pousset
(3045m), by Southeast Slope and south Crest (
EE/F+; 2h'40/3h'10).
4)- Upper o Superiore Pousset (2520m): Excursion with path in Southwest to fork
2669 metres, Barme isolated Alp
(2986m), Pousset Pass
(3201m) neighbor Luciano Gratton Bivouac
(3198m), by Northeast Slope (
EE/F; 2h'15/2h'30).
5)- Luciano Gratton Bivouac (3198m): Excursion-Climbing pathless in South-southwest to Punta Rossa
(3625m), by North-northeast Ridge (
EEA/F+; 1h'45/2h'00).
Trajo Vallon
6)- Epinel Hamlet
(1436m): Walk with path in South-southwest towards Pianes
(1694m) Pastures, fork
1995 metres, Trajo Alp
(2035m) (
T/E/F; 1h'50/2h'00).
7)- Trajo Alp (2035m): Excursion with path in West-southwest to Casotto P.N.G.P.
(2155m) and Trajo or Trayo Pass
(2873m) (
EE/F+; 2h'15/2h'45).
8)- Trayo Pass (2873m): Climbing in South through Northern Ridge, with some circumvention in West in final part, to Punta Crevasse
(3302m) (
A/F+/PD-; 2h'15/2h'30).
9)- Trayo Pass (2873m): Climbing in North-northeast through South-southwestern Ridge to Punta del Trayo
(3124m) (
A/F+/PD-PD; 1h'00/1h'30).
Nomenon Vallon
10)- Vieyes
(1158m) or Sylvenoire Villages
(1331m): Excursion with path in South towards Petit Nomenon Pasture
(1986m), unnamed Alp
(2027m), footbridge up Grand Nomenon Torrent
(2197m),
Mario Gontier Bivouac, neighbor Grand Nomenon Alp
(2323m) (
E/F; 1h'30/1h'45).
11)- Gontier Bivouac (2323m): Excursion with path before in South to sources of Nomenon Torrent; after East with path to Trajo Pass
(2873m) (
EE/F+; 1h'20/1h'40).
12)- Gontier Bivouac (2323m): Excursion with path before in South to fork
2372 metres ; after Southwest with traces to Belleface Pass
(3095m) (
EE/F+; 2h'15/2h'30).
13)- Belleface Pass: Climbing through West-northwest Ridge to La Grivola
(3969m) (
A/PD/PD+/AD/AD+; 7h'15/7h'45).
14)- Gontier Bivouac (2323m): Excursion with path in West-southwest with traces along meadows and moraines to Charbonnière Pass
(2916m) (
EE/F+; 1h'45/2h'15).
15)- Charbonnière Pass: Climbing through Northern Crest, with workarounds to the East in the initial part and Southwest in final, to Grand Nomenon
(3488m) (
A/PD/PD+; 2h'00/2h'30). As well, by North-northeast
"Crestone", starting from traces in altitude
2596 metres to the base in altitude
around 2750 metres (
A/PD-/PD; 3h'00/3h'15).
16)- Charbonnière Pass: Climbing by South-southeast Crest, with various workarounds to the West in West-southwest Slope, to Mont Favret
(3159m) and traverse on watershed to the Top also called Monte Ruje
(3171m) (
A/PD-; 2h'00/2h'15).
17)- Vieyes or Sylvenoire Hamlets: Excursion with path in South towards Plan Pessey
(1373m, 1382m) Pastures; from fork, just after, in West to Casotto P.N.G.P., near Arpissonet also called Chantel Alp
(+; 1999m) and Piana or Plana Hill
(2256m). From this briefly to Becca
(2296m) through short South Crest (
E/F; 3h'45/4h'15).
"Questi son posti per Fantasmi, Spiriti & Diavoli." Se incontri qualcuno sù da queste parti o é un Pover'Uomo che s'é sperduto, oppur n'Avventuriero con la A maiuscola. Ma pur Tu non scherzi, se é vero che stai Vagabondando da ste parti. Lasciamo perdere il primo vallone che sale agli Alpeggi del Pousset. Questa é zona sicura, adatta agli Escursionisti che salgon da Epinel o da Crétaz. Però nel primo caso l'attraversamento della foresta del Grand Bois, con quegli alberi secolari che sembra parlin, ed il successivo Villaggio Fantasma del Pousset Inferiore, con gli splendidi "Rascards" in legno totalmente abbandonati, qualche piccolo brivido già fan insorgere. Poi sopra tutto s'apre e si può andare all'antica Punta del Pousset, incombente su Epinel, Crètaz ed anche Cogne. Passando in mezzo a grandi, isolati e pigri stambecchi, adagiati sul sentiero, che a fatica concedono di sgomberare il passaggio. Più in sù, ma faticosamente lontano, troviamo il Bivacco Gratton che ci permette una facile traversata alla Punta Rossa guardando la Grivola e ricollegandoci con la precedente via dal Sella. Si, perché poi questa altri non é che la continuazione del Pianoro del Lauson; é soltanto "girata" più a Settentrione e di mezzo c'é l'erboso Monte Herban, accompagnato dalla lama rocciosa della Pointe-de-l'Ouille. Che contrasto! Il tutto sopra Cogne. Ma più in là verso Sudovest la musica cambia: un aspro e desolato vallone sale contro il Ghiacciaio del Trayo, sotto l'Arete des Clochettes" o Nordest, la Cresta Nord a guisa di "Scimitarra" e la bella Parete Nordest compresa tra le due, che lo arresta obbligandolo a girar ad Ovest. Il terreno diventa lunare ed il terminale Colle del Trayo, con le sue rocce sgretolate e color ocra, s'apre tra l'omonima sommità e la Punta Crevasse con di fronte la Cattedrale "Transilvanica" Gran Nomenon. L'ambiente diventa spettrale e soltanto il Bivacco Gontier, ingenuamente sdraiato tra pascoli verdeggianti, rassicura un poco facendo da contrasto all'incombenti seraccate della Grivola, alle frastagliate guglie del Nomenon, sicuramente abitate dai Diavoli, e l'Oceano di pietrame giù dai Colli Belleface e Charbonnière. La calata giù a Sylvenoire é in sintonia con quel sentierucolo tutto giravolte, come le scale a chiocciola di Notre-Dame. Immaginiamo la salita. Ah, non dimentichiamoci delle vipere che trovate giù anche in paese, arrotolate sul ciglio della strada, ormai in asfalto, di Sylvenoire ...
"The Devils in Night ride the ridges, then Daytime those disappear ... ", by ZedBut what is the True & Sex Symbol of Cogne?
"At the End of Navel of the World", by sergioenrico
But which is the best representation Mountain Cogne and its Valley? What makes
"turn hormones" and enhances the adrenaline for the Mountaineer? What makes him think that he must return to Val de Cogne why must scale at any cost and no makes him sleep at night
Logically His Majesty the Gran Paradiso. Easy answer, obvious and almost self-evident. But my grandson Pietro is not okay. For him it is Mont Blanc. But we were sitting on the bench in the square in Lillaz and for him between Cogne and Lillaz there is no difference. Incidentally we told him that we were going in Val de Cogne and not in Lillaz Valley. Problems of elementary logic. But Mont Blanc that appears down there, as in a frame, hence it is not so great. Indeed the Penne Blanche, just above, appears much imposing and more impressive. Always a matter of logic rational ... and perspective. But when we go down to Cogne Peter has no longer any doubt. The Mountain is definitely the biggest
Punta Pousset, here hangs over our heads. The
"Granpa" not even seen and Grivola now disappears into the shadows of the afternoon progresses. To clarify to him the ideas we bring to Gimillan upward. From there you should understand a little better. Gran Paradiso reddish stands kissed by the last winter sun that illuminates but only a small slice of its Northern Ridge, while the Eastern Wall now is in total shade and does not say anything. The same for the two North Faces of Roccia Viva Becca of Gay now in full sleep. Over there sparkle Tower Lavina and Arolla, but they are too far away. Definitely not
"belong" in Cogne. When we return to Cogne Pietro has definitely decided:
it is Pousset precisely the most important Symbolic Mountain by Val de Cogne.
And, perhaps, was completely right ..
PUNTA del MISERINO or NERA?
TORRE di LAVINA?
GRANDE AROLLA?
SENGIE, VALEILLE or SCATIGLION?
GR. S. PIETRO, ANDREA or ST.ORSO?
PATRI'?
ROCCIA VIVA?
BECCA di GAY?
BECCA di MONTANDAYNE'?
HERBETET?
La GRIVOLA or POUSSET?
Ma qual'é la Montagna che meglio rappresenta Cogne e la sua Valle? Quella che fà
"girar gli ormoni" ed esalta l'adrenalina per l'Alpinista? Quella che gli fà pensar che deve assolutamente ritornare in Val de Cogne perché la deve scalare ad ogni costo e che di notte non lo fà dormire.
Logicamente Sua Maestà il Gran Paradiso. Risposta facile, scontata e quasi lapalissiana. Ma il mio nipotino Pietro non é daccordo. Per lui si tratta del Monte Bianco. Ma eravam seduti sulla panchina del piazzale di Lillaz e per lui tra Cogne e Lillaz non c'é differenza. Daltronde gli avevam detto che andavam in Val di Cogne e non in Val di Lillaz. Problemi di logica elementare. Ma il Monte Bianco che appar laggiù in fondo, come in una cornice, da qui non é così grande. Anzi il Penne Blanche, appena qui sopra, appare molto più maestoso. Sempre questione di logica razionale e ... di prospettiva. Però quando scendiamo a Cogne Pietro non ha più alcun dubbio. La Montagna più grande é sicuramente il
Pousset, che qui pende sopra le nostre teste. Il Granpa neppur si vede e la Grivola ormai scompar nell'ombra del pomeriggio avanzante. Per chiarirgli l'idee lo portiamo sù a Gimillan. Da lì dovrebbe capire un pò meglio. Il Gran Paradiso rossastro si staglia baciato dall'ultimo sole d'inverno che però illumina solo una piccola fetta della sua Cresta Settentrionale, mentre la Parete Orientale ormai trovasi in ombra totale e non dice più niente. Lo stesso per le due Pareti Nord di Roccia Viva e della Becca di Gay ormai in pien sonno. Laggiù scintillano la Torre di Lavina e le Arolla, ma son troppo lontane. Sicuramente non
"appartengono" a Cogne. Quando torniamo a Cogne Pietro ha decisamente deciso:
é proprio il Pousset la Montagna più importante di Cogne.
E, forse, aveva pienamente ragione ...
"Alla fine dell'Ombelico del Mondo", by sergioenrico