Balestreri bivouac

History

The bivouac was built in 1927 in the memory of the mountaineer Umberto Balestreri, author of numerous first ascents in the mountains of Valle d'Aosta. In the 1931 Umberto Balestreri was also the president of CAAI (Club Alpino Accademico Italiano), only for few years because in April 1933 he died by falling down into a crevass in the Morteratsch glacier.

Getting there

Balestreri bivouac is located in the area of Breuil-Cervinia in the Grandes Murailles range, watershed between Valtournenche and Valpelline.
It is on the base ridge of Punta dei Cors as a support for the climbers which are going to climb Punta dei Cors (or Gastaldi), Punta Ester and Punta Llioy.
The route can be considered alpinistic due to the many passages on the rocky parts and the rare presence of signs on the route.






Route description:

The path is present only in the first part of the route. The upper part of is very steep, it requires the usage of hands to progress. Should be dealt with absolutely no snow. It's recommended the usage of helmet.



From Cervinia (Golf Camp) at around 2.000 m follow the path to Bobba bivouac.
In the lower part there are two paths, one is more direct and goes towards the river in common with the path to Bobba bivouac. The second follows the path N°11, on the wood bridge goes on the right side.
Both paths reach the same ruined pasture.

Past the pastures pointing vertically towards sparse traces of steep trail (cairns) to a grassy shoulder where it crosses to the right photo. Continue halfway through a couple of waterfalls. Following traces of faded red paint and yellow climbe to a passage very exposed, very steep, a small channel with grass and rock. After the stream always go sideways on the grassy slope until close to the edge of the valley with the glacier. At this point rise in a zig-zag looking traces of paint (very faint) and the stone figures. The greatest difficulty is precisely the search for traces. Stay close to avoid damage from falling stones. Rise Time 3,30 - 4 hours.

The bivouac is basecamp for the routes to:

Punta dei Cors 3.849 m (also called Punta Gastaldi)
Punta Ester 3.790 m
Punta Lioy 3.820 m
Col dei Cors 3.740 m

Images

View Balestreri bivouac Image Gallery - 24 Images