Ski route from Valdidentro

Overview

This mountain is mostly climbed in spring by ski on the snowy north side which is its the most attractive.
It's also climbed along the southwest side and south ridge, but not so commonly as the north one.

In this page, will be described 3 different ski routes on the north side that have in common the starting point (Madonna di Presedont 1760m), and the highest part below the summit.

The starting point should be the village of Isolaccia, but in spring, a small road (if clean of snow)takes to a small church called "Madonna di Presedont" with a carpark, 400m above Isolaccia.

Usually the road is closed to foreign cars, but the interdiction isn't strictly forbidden.

Route 1 from Val Lia (blue line)

From the carpark of "Madonna di Presedont" take the dirt road going to the left side. A red signal say "Bivacco Cantoni".

Follow the road with many curves, passing same wood houses. The road finish to a group of buildings called "Malghe Borron" 2057m.
From here a wide view to the Val Lia and the Cima di Piazzi on the background.

Go through the valley for the entire length, untill the foot of the mountain.
From here the slopes increase in steep immediatly. Climb the slopes following the best inclination for more or less 600/700 meters.

Once reached the "Glacier of Rinalpi", the slope becomes more gentle.
Same crevasses in the area. Go across the glacier, pointing the central part of the mountain.
From here should be visible the ski traces coming up from the Val Cardonnè.
Climb the last 400 meters on the steepest part of the route, and than to the summit, sometimes rachable only with crampons and axe.

Very steep and fine route. Recommended only in case of very good snow conditions. 1700 meters drop - OSA

Route 2 from Val Cardonnè (red line)

Usually considered the normal route.

From the car park of "Madonna di Presedont", take the dirt road on the right side. The red signal say "bivacco Ferrario". Follow the road hopefully covered of snow, with many up and down.
Due to the many up and down, this route is 100m drop more than the others two.

The road after 1 hours leads to the Val Cardonnè, similar to the opposite Val Lia.

At the head of the valley, take the slope on your right side, and with a wide semicircle direction right to left, get the top of the cliff above the valley called "Il Corno" where the bivouac Ferrario is placed (at more or less 2400 meter).

From here go across the easy glacier (crevasses are very rare), untill the plateau at the foot of the summit.
Follow the rest of way in common with the others routes to the top.

Nice route and the most frequented. Bit longer than the others two, but less dangerous. It can made in 2 days sleeping in the biv. Ferrario. 1800 meters drop - BSA

Route 3 from Val Lia (green line)

From the carpark of "Madonna di Presedont" take the dirt road going to the left side. A red signal say "Bivacco Cantoni".

Follow the road with many curves, passing same wood houses. The road finish to a group of buildings called "Malghe Borron" 2057m.
From here a wide view to the Val Lia and the Cima di Piazzi on the background.

From the plateau over the hamlet, go across the river and climb the slope on the right side (your) of the valley.
Without a precise direction, try to reach the top edge of the slope, which is the north ridge that descent from the mountain.
Once touched the ridge, the Val Cardonnè is visible on opposite side. Also the bivouac Cantoni should be visible on top of the ridge, little bit over you.

From the bivouac, follow the crest watershed untill the base of a couloir between the rocky ridge in the centre of the mountain (your left) and the serracs (your right). This is the only part where crampons are required (40/45°).

Above the couloir, a flat part of the glacier is the junction of all the routes.
So, climb the rest of the steepy slope to the summit.

Very direct route, amuse and varied. Possibly made in 2 days sleeping in the bivouac. Very recommended in descent. 1700 meters drop - OSA

Images

View Ski route from Valdidentro Image Gallery - 13 Images