Icefalls in Val Varaita
The origins of Italian cascadism
Description
A long weekend between icefalls and ski mountaineering in a beautiful and little known valley of the Maritime Alps.
Val Varaita is one of the jewels of the Maritime Alps, a valley that has seen the birth of Italian waterfalls with the first icefall ascent on the Alps. A small casket that offers fantastic icy ways to have fun for both experts and beginners, and excellent ski mountaineering trips always super-snowy. All this staying in Pontechianale, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
In short, 5 days in a few icefalls and some ski tourings just to get home satisfied and tired.

Program

  • 1st Day
    Meeting at Pontechianale in the evening around 19:00, dinner and planning for the following days.
  • 2nd Day
    Icefalls day in Val Varaita.
  • 3rd Day
    Icefalls day in Val Varaita.
  • 4th Day
    Ski tour on the Punta dell’Alp 3031mt.
  • 5th Day
    Ski tour on the Cima delle Guglie 2748m.
  • 6th Day
    Ski mountaineering day.
  • 7th Day
    Icefalls until 4:00 pm, greeting and departure.

Technical requirements
There are no meaningful technical difficulties, but a good training in mountain walking and a good climbing technique on the cliff are required. Some experience of climbing on ice and a good ski mountainnering technique (both ascending and descending) are advisable.
The program can be modified or interrupted by the mountain guide due to the insufficient technical level of the participants or for meteorological reasons.

Equipment

  • Harness
  • Pair of ice fall axes
  • Ice fall crampons
  • High mountain boots ramponabili
  • A pair of locking carabiners and a descender
Possibility to rent or, depending on availability, the material can be provided by the organization: harness and crampons.

Clothing:

  • Sunglasses for high mountain / glacier
  • Cap
  • Buff – Foulard
  • 2 pairs of high mountain gloves
  • Breathable T-shirt
  • Fiber turtleneck sweater
  • Windstopper or fleece jacket
  • Waterproof jacket (ex: Gore-tex, pac-lite, conduit…)
  • Climbing pants in schoeller or cotton
  • Mountain socks
  • Gaiters

Inside the backpack [40/50 lt maximum]:

  • One fiber T-shirt
  • Thermal pants
  • A pair of mountain socks
  • Ski mask
  • Extra light gloves
  • A headlamp with new batteries
  • Personal pharmacy kit (elasto, compeed, chewable aspirin, high protection sunscreen)
  • Waterproof overpants (ex: Gore-tex, pac lite, conduit, k-way)
  • Camera (with extra rolls and batteries)
  • 1 lt bottle or Thermos
  • Paper towels
  • Energy bars
  • Candies
  • Nutritional supplement (like Polase)

Included
Alpine guide's support, common use material.
If the minimum number of participants will be not reached, the shares will be proportionally increased unless the event will be canceled.

NOT Included
Room and board in the hut/hotel and expenses of the guide and everything not specified in the item "Included".
In case of modification of the itinerary due to causes external to the organization (adverse weather conditions, technical level of the participants, etc.) the unforeseen expenses will be debited to the participants.

Useful informations

For registration or information:

Email: mountainevolution@gmail.com
Phone: +39 3477661126

Details