Gran Paradiso - Rif. Savoia to Pont via Punta Violetta o Nivole

We left at 8.15am leaving the camping gear at the refuge as we decided to explore Costa di Menta (2819m) in the morning and hopfully get to the top of Punta Violetta o Nivole (3031m). On the ascent we were heading into low cloud and the route became indistinct over large boulder fields. As a result we ended up below the Costa di Menta on the north side which meant scrambling up a loose rock gulley to get back on track. Once we were back on the ridge the route became more obvious and we kept as close to the ridge line as possible. Again there is no real path you just have to pick and choose where you think it looks best. 

Rocky ridge up to Punta Violetta o Nivole

We reached the cross on top and stopped to enjoy the partial view that was mostly shrouded in cloud.

There is a good path that returns to the refuge along the east side of L. del Nivolet.

Morning
Ascent 569m
Descent 569m
Dist. 6 km

Summit of Punta Violetta o Nivole 3031m

We returned to the refuge to collect our abandoned gear. 

After some tea and jam tart at the refuge we headed NE down the Piano del Nivolé. A very pleasant, mostly grassy path through the valley to Croix de l’Arolley. it follows the Dora del Nivolet which has some spectacular waterfalls through rocky outcrops. At the end of the valley we arrived at a viewpoint at La Croix de l'Arolley.  From here we had a steep descent on a rough path down to Pont. We encountered an Italian cyclist  on a tour from Verona tackling this on his road bike with a full set of paniers, needless to say he had to carry it most of the way. The rock scenery on the descent is very dramatic, with overhanging cliffs and waterfalls.

Afternoon
Ascent 40m
Descent 580m

Dist. 6km

We pitched the tent in the busy campsite (Camping Pont Breuil) and went to the Alberge Gran Paradiso for a beer. 
The campsite has a small shop selling almost anything that you could need on a walking holiday. There is a large shower and toilet block with good warm showers. 

 In the evening we ate Pizzas and had ice cream and tart for desert washed down with red wine.

During the night I was awoken by a rustling sound outside the tent. I was reluctant to get out as it was raining. Through the thin wall of the tent I could see the outline of a fox so I quickly got out of the sleeping bag to chase it off. It had managed to steal our supply of cereal bars and toasties bread and cheese.

Gran Paradiso - Sentiero del Re

The campsite at the eastern end of lagi di Ceresole Reale (Cassa Bianca) has a new chalet style cafe with the showers and toilets below. It all appears to be new. It is very smart and clean with hot showers. We were pitched on a small grassy terrace looking rather worn after the summer season and all the rain that northern Italy had experienced in July. 

Ceresole Reale is one of the 29 "Pearls of the Alps". These are Alpine villages and communities that promote "soft mobility". This means that they are accessible by public transport and promote sustainable holidays. They invest in alternative energy and support environmentally friendly holidays.

Looking east towards Col de Terra

We ate some breakfast in the cafe packed the tent and set off up to road to catch the bus  at 9.00am. The bus arrived on time and we got off at rifugio Muzio  then walked up the road to Chiapili di Sopra (1754m). A small path headed up the hillside alongside a small stone barn in a NE direction (route 533) to a spot height 2543m at a junction of paths. We dumped the rucksacks and headed NE on route 14 far enough to have a look at the path in the opposite direction and towards Col d Terra. 

Sentiero del Re, looking west towards Lago Serru and the French border

On returning to the bags at the junction we draped the wet tent over a large rock to dry in the sun and ate our lunch. After lunch we walked west along Sentiero del Re, a very pleasant contouring path heading toward Col del Nivolet. It had beautiful views west towards Lago Serru and the mountains behind that form the French border.

We took a right turn near Bastalon onto route 550 in a NE direction to a series of small lakes including L. Losere.

We briefly joined the Tarmac road to the first of the steep zig zags where a reinforced path climbed steeply up the hillside, thus avoiding a long walk on the road. The track leads to Rif. Città di Chivasso where we stopped for a drink and some jam tart. 

Unfortunately the refuge was full when we tried to book in from the UK. The guardian said that a group had cancelled at the last minute and that there was now space. We had already booked ourselves in to Rif. Savoia. So much for planning in advance, so we carried on down the valley to our refuge.

When we arrived at Rif. Savoia (2532m) we found that we were booked into a private room with our own double bed, wash basin and shower.

The weather had been OK and certainly better than the heavy rain forecast. We had a brief shower, there was a cool wind with some low cloud. The sun did make a show at times making it pleasantly warm.

The meal that evening consisted of a thick green soup, boiled potatoes, cabbage beef (egg for vegetarians) ice cream, panacotta and some red wine.

After a good nights sleep we had breakfast at 7.00am, consisting of tea, bread jam and yoghurt biscuits and toasties.

Ascent 1155m
Descent 330m