Col Rosset
Introduction
Col Rosset takes its name from a band of typically colored rocks on Nivolet side (actually a more appropriate name would be ... Col Giallet because of this yellow band) and is ideally situated between the valleys of Rhemes and Savarenche as privileged balcony on the Gran Paradiso. This crossing, in itself long enough, (coming from the Refuge Benevolo one has to face a biggest drop since a long stretch is downhill) becomes a great ride between the two valleys with the way through the entire plan Nivolet (about 7 km. in length), and offers considerable appeal and the chance to observe the flora and fauna of the National Park. Unfortunately (as in so many hikes in the Valle d'Aosta is often the case) there is another side of the coin: reaching the refuge Savoy quite close to the Col Nivolet on a summer day, coming from the hill, is an experience nothing short of shocking. We know that from the valley of Piedmont Locana (called Orco valley too) cars are allowed to reach this site and then anyone can imagine what the emotional impact for hikers coming from high altitudes to find themselves suddenly surrounded by polluting vehicles and chattering crowds of "sunday tourists" that invade every corner of available land and flock to shelters like normally people do in the bars of the big cities at happy hour time. And this is, unfortunately, a forced a passage that partially ruins the aesthetics and satisfaction of this great journey.
Description
Leaving the Refuge Benevolo(trail signposts nr. 13A) you travel back on the access road about 400 meters and, at the first turn (signal) turn right along a path that stars a moderate slope of rocky crests with tufts of grass with direction south. Some turns allow you to gain altitude and get close to the Valley of Vaudalaz, a branch of the orographic right of Rhemes Valley. In about 35 minutes you reach the summits of the hill, where a great stone marks the point where you have to begin the descend in order to rejoin the track which climbs directly up from the mentioned Rhemes Valley. This descent takes place on a flight path that cuts across the left side of the valloon and ends at its bottom quite facing the pastures of the same name where you cross the torrent that runs through it. Climb then the other side and bend sharply to the right in the direction of Pointe Palettaz through meager pastures and passing along the side of large rock formations. It almost seems that our Col is facing, but then the trail turns sharply to the left again, heading for the rocky crest of the watershed which consists of metamorphic detritus. From this point the land is made, as well as markedly steeper, but rather arduous for its nature almost sandy. We make our way through piles and rocky screes scrupulously following the yellow signs, first left and then, coming to the final bottom of the crag, with continuous steep turns. A final traverse to the left just below the Col leads into a corridor that ends at the rocky mountain pass, where there are more compact and yellowish rocks. The pass, very open, gives a beautiful view of the southern peaks of the Gran Paradiso to the three Levanne elegant and majestic that stand to the south, as well as the below and more distant lakes Chanavey, Lakes Rosset and Leyte. You can see the long valley that relies on the Col Nivolet, while the real peak of the Gran Paradiso is hidden by a rocky outcrop on the left of the hill.
The descent takes place on the opposite side first on tracks until the bottom of a valley where two small lakes lie is reached and where often remains snow still in the late summer. Continue slightly to the right onto a path that runs more marked on a sort of highland and twists among the rocks, and then down a small cliff overlooking the two large lakes mentioned above. Behind it can be seen the ramparts of the debrising hill crossed by a characteristic broad band of yellowish rocks. Steepest descent leads to the same altitude of these beautiful lakes. The track runs between Rosset (enhanced by a small island shaped like a "priest's hat"), on the left and Leyte on the right. A stop here is truly recommendable.
Be careful not to lose track. Turn right, skirting the eastern shore of Leyte, then climb a short slope at the top of which we are now facing the large corridor of the Col Nivolet being exactly on the vertical of Refuge Savoy. The disastrous situation of this place has already been mentioned in the introduction. It seems incredible that such a beautiful place can be desecrated with impunity from the worst of the worst of tourism but so it is: get off in the direction of the road that passes in front of the Refuge and continues for a few hundred meters at the beginning of the Plan Nivolet. Fortunately, the project to continue this absurd way to the Valsavarenche has aborted several years ago, but the construction of the road on the Piedmontese side of the Col is one of the "best" examples of how in Italy the protection of natural environment is not taken into account in any respect (the most absurd thing, among others, is that this area is within the territory of a National Park!).
Soon let's turn our backs upon these horrors and just go to seek refuge in the Plan Nivolet, long and pleasant, a great rocky plateau lock up in chains, crossed by torrents and dotted with placid groups of huts, unfortunately, almost all in ruins. It is advisable to go slowly this long stretch (about 7 km) to enjoy the beauty of the landscape in a deeper way.
At the end of the plan will pass by a brief barrage of old moraine. The path goes around large boulders and with some ups and downs, near the first conifers, you step to the verge of falling down on Valsavarenche, right on the vertical of Pont. Just below the edge the road ends at the Roley Cross where a classic panoramic view on the Gran Paradiso can be admired. The path from the refuge Savoy to here requires almost two hours.
All that remains now is a steep descent along the path which, with some exposed points and easy equipped descends, steeply reach the forest and continues until its outlet in the basin at the end of the few houses and small hotels in Pont Valsavarenche.
Autore
- Consulta tutte le relazioni di escursionismo di Giovanni Consigli
- Consulta la pagina di Giovanni Consigli
Bibliography
- Luca Zavatta: Le Valli del Gran Paradiso e la Valgrisenche L'Escursionista Editore, 2006
Cartography
- 10 - Valle di Cogne Gran Paradiso 1:25.000, L'Escursionista Editore, 2008
Photo gallery
- Add new comment
- 0 Votes
