Trekking Gran Paradiso: Alta Via 2

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This guidebook presents 28 day walks in the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Italian Alps south of Mont Blanc, and the 12-day Alta Via 2 trek. The Alta Via covers over 148km of rugged mountains and valleys between Chardonnay and Courmayeur. The graded walks vary from 2 to 33km and range from easy paths to routes for the experienced alpine walker.

Cicerone says

A guidebook to trekking Alta Via 2, a route of 148km, from Chardonney and Courmayeur in the Gran Paradiso National Park. While not high on the difficulty scale, Alta Via 2 is strenuous, and best suited to trekkers with some alpine experience. Fittingly perfectly into a two-week time slot, the route is best undertaken between late June and late September.

The route is described across 12 stages (with a 4-stage extension option in place of Stages 6 and 7). Stages range from 5 to 18km, with stage ascent varying from 50m (Stage 8) to 1400m (Stage 9). Net ascent is 9630m. The route is described east to west so trekkers are rewarded with the beauty of Mont Blanc at the journey’s end.

• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on travel logistics, the mountain hut network, as well as kit requirements
• Trek-specific Italian-English glossary included
• Information given on local alpine flora and wildlife
• Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: The summer months – late June to late September – are the time to go. That’s when the mountain huts are open, providing meals and accommodation for trekkers. However, outside that period the valley villages can be used as a comfortable base for day routes
• Centres: Cogne, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Pont Valsavarenche, Valgrisenche, La Thuile, Chardonney, Ceresole Reale, Ronco Canavese
• Difficulty: The walks are all graded for difficulty – ranging from straightforward paths to high and exposed routes for experienced alpine walkers. No special equipment is needed
• Must See: Alta Via 2 trek through the Gran Paradiso National Park, parallel to the Aosta valley. Glittering glacial lakes, old royal hunting trails, ascent of Becca della Traversiere, Punta Basei, belvederes onto Mont Blanc, the trad southern valleys and Ceresole Reale

Specifications

• Edition: First
• Number of pages: 96
• Size: 17.2 x 11.6 x 0.6cm
• Weighs 120g

Contents

• Introduction
  
• The Gran Paradiso National Park
  
• Valleys and bases
  
• Information
  
• Access
  
• When to go
  
• How to use this book
  
• Path marking
  
• Dos and don’ts
  
• Emergencies
  
• Mountaineering and guides
  
• Maps
  
• Accommodation
  
• What to take
  
• Wildlife
  
• Vegetation
  
• Local traditions
  
• Further suggestions
  
• Alta Via 2
  
• Stage 1 Chardonney to Rifugio Dondena
  
• Stage 2 Rifugio Dondena to Rifugio Péradzà
  
• Stage 3 Rifugio Péradzà to Cogne
  
• Stage 4 Cogne to Rifugio Vittorio Sella
  
• Stage 5 Rifugio Vittorio Sella to Eaux Rousses
  
• Stage 6 Eaux Rousses to Rhêmes-Notre-Dame
  
• Stage 7 Rhêmes-Notre-Dame to Rifugio Chalet de l’Epée
  
• Stage 8 Rifugio Chalet de l’Epée to Planaval
  
• Stage 9 Planaval to La Haut
  
• Stage 10 La Haut to La Thuile
  
• Stage 11 La Thuile to Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini
  
• Stage 12 Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini to Courmayeur
  
• Day Walks
  
• 1 The Lillaz Waterfalls
  
• 2 Lago di Loie
  
• 3 The Money Glacier Terrace
  
• 4 The Casolari dell’Herbetet Traverse
  
• 5 Punta Pousset – the local ‘Gornergrat’
  
• 6 Beneath the Grivola
  
• 7 Passo d’Invergneux and the Mines Circuit
  
• 8 Laghi di Lussert
  
• 9 Pondel’s Roman Bridge
  
• 10 The 2205m Mont Blanc
  
• 11 At the Foot of the Gran Paradiso
  
• 12 Over Gran Collet to Col del Nivolet
  
• 13 The King’s Path in Valle delle Meyes
  
• 14 Vallon di Sort
  
• 15 Col Rosset
  
• 16 Punta Basei
  
• 17 Becca della Traversière
  
• 18 Legendary San Grato
  
• 19 Becca dei Quattro Denti
  
• 20 The Royal Track to Ceresole Reale
  
• 21 Sentiero Glaciologico Lago Serrù
  
• 22 Beneath the Tre Levanne
  
• 23 The Villages of Valle dell’Orco
  
• 24 Beyond the Dam in Vallone di Piantonetto
  
• 25 Nivolastro to Andorina
  
• 26 Frescoes and Fridges en route to Bivacco Davito
  
• 27 Sanctuary of San Besso
  
• 28 Col Larissa
  
• Appendix A Italian-English Glossary
  
• Appendix B Route Summary Table