The Grand Paradiso: 29th March, 2008

Ski from the Grand Paradiso peak, 4061metres high

Great food and a friendly atmosphere

Varied and challenging. Ideal second tour

This tour traverses the Italian Grand Paradiso National Park and ends with a climb and ski descent from the Grand Paradiso (4061m). The Parc Nazionale del Gran Paradiso is the largest national park in Italy, and as well as being home to thousands of Chamois, also has a large stock of Bouquetin (Steinbock) and it is quite common to see these while ski touring. Until 1922 the park had been the private hunting reserve of King Vittorio Emanuelle and was consequently well stocked with wildlife. The terrain is varied with some steep sections and a couple of long days. The huts are comfortable and the meals plentiful. Each day there is a choice of any number of peaks to ski as we traverse the park west to east using the following huts:

Refugio Benevolo
Refugio Chivasso
Refugio Vittorio Emmanuelle
Refugio Chabod

After three years of running tours in this area, we have now adapted the itinerary to make the most of this beautiful massif. With the first two nights at the Benevolo, giving you time to acclimatize and bag peaks with lighter sacks, we are also now planningthe exciting descent from the Grand Paradiso to the Chabod refuge. This is a glacier descent not to be missed and the refuge at the end is certainly worth the effort. With the Gran Paradiso attempt being on the penultimate day, we give ourselves a better chance of getting to the peak in case of poor conditions.

“We just can't stop talking about our trip to Italy !” - The Gassons

OUTLINE ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Fly to Geneva, transfer to the Gran Paradiso
Arrival in Geneva and minibus transfer to the Hotel Granta Parei in the village of Rhemes in the Valsavarenche. We meet up in the evening to collect hire gear, chat with our guides and prepare for the week ahead. This is a lovely family run hotel with great food.

DAY 2 - Vallee de Rhemes and the Pointes Paletta(2979m)
We start the tour with a gentle morning skin up the valley to the first refugio, Benevolo(2285m). In the afternoon we set off to a nearby peak for an ideal warm up ski - leaving our heavier gear at the hut first !

DAY 3 – Punta Bazel or Calabre
We leave the Benevolo refuge, again with light bags, to head up the Glacier de Tsantaleina. Following under the vertical walls of the Granta Parey, we then climb up the steady slopes to the peak of the Calabre. This is a beautiful glacial climb which rewards you with fabulous views over the massif and across to the Gran Paradiso itself. You also get a great view down to Val d’Isere and North to the Mont Blanc. In previous years we have been blessed with fabulous snow conditions for a great ski down. You return to the Benevolo refuge for another fine meal.

DAY 4 - Benevelo to Refugio Chivasso
We attempt to ascend to the summit of the Punta Basei (3338m)today as we traverse the mountains to reach the Chivasso hut via the col Nivolettaz(3120). This is a steady climb again on skis followed by an optional short scramble to reach the top. The ski down to the Chivasso refuge(2604m), with views over to the Gran Paradiso, takes you from wide open glacier slopes to interesting narrower gullies. However good the skiing, the highlight of this day is always meeting Alessandro, the Chivasso guardian. His hospitality and unique character along with his immaculately kept refuge library and great food make for perhaps your most memorable refuge experience to date.

DAY 5 - Chivasso(2604m) to Vittorio Emanuelle hut(2710m)
Today is a longer day and requires an early start. Our destination is the Vittoria Emanuelle hut on the flank of the Gran Paradiso peak, but that is some distance away. Our route takes us through remote valleys to climb to the Col de Pointe Foura(3120m). From the col we ski down and across to the Glacier de Grand Etret before putting the skins on again and traversing and climbing to the Vittorio Emmanuelle Refuge(2710m). This descent has some exciting steep sections.

DAY 6- the Gran Paradiso - 4061m
The climax of the tour takes us to the summit of the Gran Paradiso peak itself. We climb, steeply at times via the Glacier du Mont Grand-Paradiso to reach the higher reaches of the glacier. The final rock scramble to the summit is a wonderful climax to this peak. There is then a fabulous descent of the glacier de Laveciau, under the North face of the Gran Paradiso, which leads us down to the Chabod refuge(2715m). This is another very hospitable refuge, with all the rewards you need after this challenging day.

DAY 7- Bivacco Sberna down to Eaux Rousse
The final day of this tour provides you with great variety. After a steady climb to the col where the Bivouc hut is located , you start an initially steepish descent of the glacier before dropping into the interesting, winding vallon which will lead you to the tree line. Depending on the snow level, you now ski down through the trees on a track until you reach another steep gully which will bring you all the way down to the road. After a cold beer and some lunch at Pont, its back in the bus and to the Granta Parey hotel where the adventure all started.

DAY 8 - Back to Geneva fro flights
Transfer to Geneva Airport for connections back to the UK or on to the next ski tour......

Please Note: This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour Guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group as and when they occur.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NEEDED FOR THIS TREK
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Ski Touring Skis with Touring Bindings
Ski Poles
Skins (with good glue!)
Ski Crampons
Ski Strap (for tying top of the skis together when carrying on rucksack)
Avalanche Transceiver
Crampons (but you won't need an ice axe on this trip)
Climbing Harness

Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear- 1 set as a base layer
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof overtrousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Warm walking socks
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses/Goggles

Other useful items
40-60 litre rucksack (needs side straps so that you can carry skis)
Head torch and batteries
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus (get an insulated pipe though)
Penknife

Optional items
Change of clothing to include: underwear,tracksuit bottoms/ long-johns,dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera and film
Paperback novel
Maps
Ear plugs(there is always one snorer)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag (if you like them)

Some Clients Also Recommend
Wet Wipes

Ski Touring Equipment Hire
Pyrenean Mountain Tours offer a full equipment hire pack. You can hire everything you need for this tour or individual items at the costs shown in the table below. We are unable to provide equipment "last minute" so you need to book what you need well in advance.

Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.