Indications

Recommended for

• Skilled hikers

Itinerary

Leaving the Posto Tappa, follow the paved road leading to I Frè hamlet. At the hairpin turn below the hamlet, cross the bridge and follow the obvious trail (indication GTA and 214). Reach the Pian Salè pasture huts, passing by the huge sheep rock called “Balena”(whale). Do not take the trail on the right, but keep on climbing and enter the small wood, tackling a steep stretch taking you to the summit of a wall overlooking the stream below. The trail levels up reaching the Garavela pasture huts. Walk on, always on the orographic right side of the stream, until arriving at Alpe Pian Buet. Just a bit further on, at the crossroads, keep the right and climb a slope with many rhododendrons and alders so as to arrive in sight of Lago Verde Inferiore. Skirt it on the right, climb among huge boulders to Lago Verde Superiore. From here, in a short time you will reach the Gandolfo bivvi, on the right of the trail. The climb now easily proceeds on rubble ground up to Passo Paschiet, beyond which you will enjoy a wide panorama.

With a short descent you will arrive at a trail fork, turn right ignoring the (128A) trail which keeps descending towards Alpe d’Ovarda to end at Lemie. (This itinerary is longer but useful and safer in case of physical problems or reduced visibility.) After having turned right at the fork, you start circling the Torre d’Ovarda slopes, at first climbing to Colle di Costa Fiorita, then descending along steep meadows until you arrive at Pian Venaus. Crossing several couloirs, descend until you definitely turn left to enter a steep conifer wood. Keeping on walking you finally arrive on the left orographic side of Rio Venaus, characterized by the great protection wall. Shortly, reach the paved road, turn right and climb for about 1½ kilometers until reaching the Posto Tappa Albergo Furnasa, at the beginning of Vallone d’Arnas.

Bibliography

“GTA – Grande Traversata delle Alpi” di I. Kürschner e D. Haas Ed. Rother.

Cartography

Valli di Lanzo – carta sentieri 3 Val d’Ala e Val Grande; Alte Valli di Lanzo – carta n° 17 L’Escursionista & Monti editori