Trek and climb Monte Rosa in Italy
Acclimatise yourself on a trek to reach Punta Gnifetti (4,556 m), the highest easily accessible peak in the Alps!

Trip

The Monte Rosa Trek offers us the opportunity to explore wild trails and paths surrounded by unique flora and fauna, in a spectacular mountain setting. It is the second highest massif in the Alps, rivalling Mont Blanc, and the tranquillity of its paths makes it, for us, the most beautiful massif in the Alps. Let yourself be seduced by this unique offer and come with us to discover this corner of the Alps.

Program

Wild Monte Rosa program

DAY 1
STAFFAL - COL DI BETTOLINA - REFUGE

Elevation: +1,000 m and -850 m, 10 km
Duration: approx. 6 hours

We meet at 8:45 a.m. in the pretty village of Staffal above Gressoney at the cable car station to park our cars in the car park.
We then set off along a pretty path opposite Monte Rosa. The glaciers above us are magnificent, the path is wild and we are sure to encounter ibex and marmots. We will eat at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, between the Champoluc and Gressoney valleys. On our way, we will meet mountaineers climbing towards the Sella refuge to ascend Castor, which rises to an altitude of 4,228 metres. We then descend fairly quickly to our refuge to sleep on the edge of a larch forest with a beautiful view of the Champoluc valley.

DAY 2
REFUGE - RIFUGIO MEZZALAMA - CHAMPOLUC

Elevation: + 1250 and - 1350 m and 19 km
Duration: approximately 7 to 8 hours

We walk at the foot of the Monte Rosa glaciers, where we have two choices: the Valle delle Cime Bianche or the Val de Véraz to head towards the Verra Glaciers, which are among the largest glaciers in the Alps. We will pass by the legendary Blue Lake if we choose to head to the Mezzalama refuge at the foot of the Pollux and Castor glaciers, two twin peaks well known in the Alps for being superb summits over 4,000 metres high, offering a slightly technical climb to help you progress before tackling Mont Blanc, for example. We then reach our superb refuge overlooking Champoluc, where you will be seduced by Italian cuisine and the legendary Walser welcome (a population that stretched from Valais at Zermatt and the Saas Valley in Switzerland to the Monte Rosa region).

DAY 3
CORNO BUSSOLA

Elevation: +1,300 m and -900 m and 14 km
Duration: approximately 6 to 7 hours

We leave the refuge to reach Alpe Masognaz: a high-end village renovated by the same family in a unique Walser style. After passing through this magnificent village, we climb up a wild valley to reach the Col di Palasina, where we can reach a 3,000 m summit and enjoy the many lakes in the surrounding area. In the evening, we will sleep in a large refuge at the foot of a beautiful gneiss cliff where ibexes are regularly spotted.

DAY 4
PUNTA VALFREDDA

Elevation: +800 m and -1400 m and 12 km.
Duration: approximately 6 to 7 hours

This day offers us a high-altitude journey between peaks and ridges at an altitude of nearly 3000 metres. The hike takes place on a superb path with breathtaking views. We will pass through many beautiful villages. The Walser Valley has a traditional chalet style similar to that seen in Zermatt, Switzerland. We will have the opportunity to pass by a magnificent peak and may consider climbing it, depending on the weather and your fitness level. Your guide will adapt to the group and conditions. We will arrive at the refuge fairly quickly to drop off our bags and continue the day exploring the magnificent Walser village on a balcony path near the refuge. If anyone wishes to rest before starting the ascent the next day, they can take a short break at our superb refuge.

DAY 5
DEPARTURE FROM PUNTA GNIFETTI

Elevation: + 1000 m and - 800 m
Duration: approximately 7 to 9 hours

This is the start of our adventure to discover the high mountains and set off for Punta Gnifetti!
We descend from the refuge fairly quickly through a magnificent forest of thousand-year-old trees, skirting a beautiful waterfall to reach the bottom of the valley where we will take a bus to Staffal to retrieve the mountaineering equipment needed for the ascent, and leave the rest of our belongings so that we can travel light and well equipped. We take a 4x4 or a cable car to climb to an altitude of around 2,300 metres, then set off along a wild path to reach the Citta di Montova refuge at an altitude of 3,498 metres. We climb along a ridge and enjoy a magnificent view of the Lys glacier descending from Monte Rosa.

The Città di Montova refuge is a superb high-mountain refuge with exceptional views. The comfort is more basic than in lower-altitude refuges, there are no showers and the water is not drinkable, so toiletries are reduced to the bare essentials... We arrive at the refuge via a trail and the high mountain guides will join us at the end of the afternoon to show you how to put on crampons and give a briefing for the next day's ascent. The departure time will be chosen by the guides depending on the weather and your fitness level. The guides will form rope teams based on the levels given to them by the trek leader so that the teams are homogeneous, maximising enjoyment and the chances of reaching the summit. The rope teams will consist of a maximum of five people per guide, and the leader will climb with you on one of the rope teams.

DAY 6
PUNTA GNIFETTI (4556m)

Elevation: + 1100 m and - 1000 m
Duration: approximately 7 to 8 hours

We set off at night with headlamps. After a few minutes, we arrive at the glacier, put on our crampons and set off roped together across the glacier. The ascent of the glacier is technically easy, with slopes of around 35° that are fairly gradual, so by the time we reach the summit at 4,500 m, you will already be well accustomed to walking with crampons. The climb along the glacier is magnificent with the Lyskams towering above us and at the summit the view is exceptional at Punta Gnifetti. We can enjoy regaining our strength at the refuge, which is the highest refuge in Europe with its renowned pizza, which is also the highest in Europe.
After enjoying a break at the refuge to take in the view and eat, we will continue our descent to the Città di Montova refuge, then descend via the normal route to take the Punta d'Indren cable car and gondola lifts or 4x4s to finish the descent to Staffal, where we will have a drink or meal depending on our arrival time. The last meal is not included so that you can eat whatever you want at the end of our adventure!

Everyone will then make their own way back to the Staffal car park after returning all the mountaineering equipment to the guides. If you have a long journey ahead of you, we recommend staying overnight in Staffal or somewhere else along the route, as it is a tiring day.
 

Materiel

Equipment for the wild Monte Rosa trek:

The backpack

If possible, choose a lightweight backpack that is comfortable to carry. The backpack should not weigh more than 1.5 kg.

• Small frame: 40 to 45 litres max
• Large frame: 45 to 50 litres max

Your rucksack should have 10 to 15 litres of space for the food you will be carrying for lunch and sometimes the next day, which the mountain huts or guides will provide.

Weight to carry - it's better to wash than to carry:

• Small build: 5/6 kg max, without water and food
• Large build: 6/7 kg max, without water and food

Allow 2 litres of water and 500 grams of food per day.

Equipment from head to toe for the trek:

• a cap or hat for the sun
• a hat for the cold
• a buff or neck warmer is optional but very useful in bad weather
• a Gore-Tex or equivalent jacket for inclement weather
• a pair of gloves, waterproof if possible
• a small down jacket or fleece to withstand sub-zero temperatures
• two jumpers: one light and one warmer; if it is cold, we will wear all layers
• two or three technical T-shirts
• 2 to 4 pairs of socks; you can wash them in the streams near the refuges (solid soap for washing)
• Trousers or overtrousers
• Tights
• Shorts
• A rain cover for your rucksack
• A waterproof bag to keep your spare clothes dry
• A change of clothes for the refuge
• A pair of hiking boots with Vibram-type soles or good quality trail shoes. From 20 July onwards, try them out before the trek if possible

Essentials:

• A lightweight sleeping bag liner for the refuge
• 2 telescopic walking poles
• Water bottle or flask to carry at least 2 litres of water
• Sunscreen with SPF 30 to 50
• A pair of category 3 sunglasses
• A lightweight headlamp
• Small treats such as dried fruit and chocolate
• Cash and your valid identity card or passport
• For the ascent of Punta Gnifetti, you will need the following equipment:
• Equipment for climbing a peak over 4,000 metres

Equipment:

• High-quality, waterproof mountaineering boots suitable for crampons (such as Scarpa Triolet GTX, available for hire from Le Sport Du Pilier, Montura Store in Aosta, or Ravanel or Snell in Chamonix)
• Helmet
• 30/40 litre rucksack
• Telescopic walking poles

TECHNICAL CLOTHING:

First layer next to the skin - underwear:

• thermal and breathable T-shirt (merino wool recommended)
• thermal and breathable tights (merino wool recommended)
• warm socks

Second layer:

• warm and breathable technical fleece
• windproof and waterproof mountaineering trousers in Gore-Tex or equivalent

Third layer:

• thin but warm down jacket

Outer layer:

• Gore-Tex or similar jacket, waterproof and windproof

Don't forget:

• sleeping bag liner
• warm winter hat
• neck warmer
• warm winter gloves
• head torch
• thermos flask and water bottle
• sunscreen
• sunglasses with minimum protection of 3 or 4
• camera

If you have any doubts or simply need clarification on the equipment you need to take for your climb, you can take a look at our blog page ‘What equipment do you need for mountaineering?’

IMPORTANT: if a person is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow them to participate in the climb. Please read the equipment list provided in the PDF programme carefully and call us if you have any questions.

Toiletries:

• a lightweight, quick-drying towel, such as those used for hiking
• body soap
• a toothbrush with a small tube of toothpaste or solid toothpaste
• a small shampoo (small size - specialist shops sell small bottles that you will keep for your entire hiking life)
• a pair of earplugs to help you sleep better at night in the refuge

First aid kit & other items:

• your medication
• a lightweight survival blanket
• nail clippers
• small bandages
• a few compresses and adhesive tape or, better still, Strappal

Your guide will have a more comprehensive first aid kit in case of a more serious accident.

A little treat: A small book or pack of cards (weighing less than 150 grams)...

Essentials for meals:

• A lightweight Opinel-type knife
• A fork and spoon
• A speciality from your home region to share with the rest of the team, either liquid or solid

Weight is a hiker's enemy, but a frozen or soaked hiker is a hiker who is not enjoying themselves!

So take the time to pack your rucksack carefully and weigh it before you set off to check that, without water or food, your rucksack weighs 6 to 7 kg but no more!

Level

Physical level 4/5

SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE

Programme for experienced and trained hikers.
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.

Technical level 4/5

FAIRLY EASY MOUNTAINEERING

You should be comfortable walking in the mountains and on varied terrain. Easy climbing.
If you have already done a glacier trek, it is better, but not compulsory, if you have a good physical and mental condition.
Learning the techniques of progression at altitude for fairly easy routes and easy rescue techniques.

Useful infos

Useful information to prepare for your mountaineering course

Meeting point on the first day

Meet at 8:45 am in Staffal, the last inhabited hamlet at the foot of Monte Rosa, at a car park near the ski lifts where you can leave your car.

End of the trek

The group will disperse on day 6 at the end of the day between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Staffal at the same car park as on arrival. (Aosta Valley).

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is compulsory, as is other insurance covering mountain search and rescue (approximately €10,000 cover).

Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com. You must take out ‘multi-risk impact’ insurance. Other types of insurance may not provide the same level of cover, so please read your insurance policy carefully.

Budget and currency

France and Italy are in the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro (€).

The refuge also has an electronic payment terminal, but we strongly advise you to bring cash!

How to get to the Aosta Valley

• Via Chamonix Mont Blanc - you can reach Chamonix by train from the main French airports or Geneva airport - then you can reach Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, via the Mont Blanc tunnel (there are bus connections from Chamonix to the Aosta Valley, but if you want to be free to move around, it is advisable to hire a car);
• Via Geneva or Martigny - you can easily reach Martigny by train from Geneva airport - then you can reach the centre of Aosta via the Great Saint Bernard Tunnel (there are bus connections from Martigny to the Aosta Valley, but if you want to be free to move around, it is advisable to hire a car);
• Via Milan/Turin Airport:
  • Hire a car directly to reach Aosta via the motorway.
  • By train: https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html
• Or via Bourg Saint Maurice - Col du Petit Saint Bernard - you can reach Bourg-Saint-Maurice by train from the main French airports. Once in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, you will need to hire a car to reach the Aosta Valley via the Col du Petit Saint Bernard (2 hours' drive). It is a slightly longer journey, but you can save on the Mont Blanc Tunnel toll.

Public transport in the Aosta Valley

• Bus transport within the Aosta Region: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/timetables-and-routes/
• Bus transport from Chamonix to Courmayeur: https://aosta.arriva.it/courmayeur-chamonix/
• Bus transport from Courmayeur to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/line/aosta-courmayeur-2/ (to take the Valsavarenche bus, stop at the village of Villeuneuve)
• Bus transport from Milan to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/aosta-milano/

Carpooling

When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to participate in carpooling to get to the starting point of your course. After making your reservation, log back into your Esprit Montagne personal account, where you will find a section dedicated to carpooling. There you will find the contact details of other course participants interested in carpooling, allowing you to get in touch with them directly.