We continued on what is probably the most difficult European hiking route, the Grande Traversata delle Alpi from Fondo to San Lorenzo. The route from Pont Saint Martin took us 5 days to reach San Lorenzo.
Hiking the GTA in the Italian Alps – Part 10 – Refugio Coda – Pont Saint Martin
This stage marked the final section of my second tour on the Grande Traversata delle Alpi. I set off early in the morning from Rifugio Coda, where I had recovered overnight. At altitude, the cold was intense, and I had briefly struggled with mild hypothermia, but by morning I was fit again and ready to continue.
Unfortunately, the day began entirely shrouded in fog. While the route itself was not technically difficult, the conditions made it dangerous due to poor visibility and exposed sections along the ridge. The trail followed the ridgeline for a long stretch, constantly ascending and descending. At one point, the clouds briefly lifted, revealing a spectacular view of the Aosta Valley and the surrounding valleys.
Continue reading “Hiking the GTA in the Italian Alps – Part 10 – Refugio Coda – Pont Saint Martin”Hiking the GTA in the Italian Alps – Part 9 – Oropa – Refugio Coda
Starting from Oropa, this time after a simple homemade breakfast, we walked back past the Basilica and continued toward the mountains. At first, I was alone on the trail, but before long other hikers began to appear. A notable point along the route was a cable car station, where several hikers had arrived. From there, another cable car was supposed to continue higher into the mountains, but it was not operating.
Hiking the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA) in the Italian Alps – Part 4 – Carcoforo – Rima
Once again, I slept poorly. Throughout the night, the constant ringing of animal bells echoed around the refuge, and the room was oppressively warm, with no breeze at all. After a rather meager breakfast, I set off once more, immediately climbing a steep slope—steeper than on the previous days.
Hiking the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA) in the Italian Alps – Part 1 – Forno – Rimella
This stage marked the beginning of my hike on the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA), covering the route from Forno to Rimella. From the start, the trail felt remarkably remote. I followed a river steadily uphill for hours, encountering no one at all until the afternoon, as the path led toward Campello Monti.