The second part of the hike on the Grande Traversata delle Alpi began exactly where the first section had ended. I drove by car to Sant’Antonio, continuing on to the rifugio, after spending several hours stuck in heavy traffic caused by the peak holiday travel season.
Unlike my stay in June, when I had been completely alone, this time the refuge was occupied by at least four other hikers. After receiving my sleeping area, I turned in early to prepare for the demanding stage ahead.
The following day began immediately with the long and strenuous hike toward Rifugio Rivetti—a stage that is officially not recommended as an ascent. I decided to tackle it anyway. The route started with a lengthy climb through the valley, steadily gaining elevation. As the terrain steepened, the trail led to the first ridge, followed by an extremely steep descent into a basin-like hollow.
This natural “cauldron” had to be crossed entirely before the trail climbed again toward a second pass. From there, the route became particularly demanding, traversing large boulder fields and rugged terrain along an exposed ridge toward a third pass. Progress was slow and physically taxing.
From the final pass, the effort was rewarded with a wide, impressive view over the Po Valley. At that point, Rifugio Rivetti was only a few minutes away, perched at an altitude of approximately 2,300 meters. Reaching the refuge marked the end of a challenging but highly rewarding day on the GTA.