Italian Alps - I need a map! - Soapbox

Grumps

13/06/2012 at 10:10

Anyone here walked in the Italian alps - specifically Porossan / Lignan / Monte Zerbion / Arp / Colle Valdobbia? The Valle d'Aosta tourism office call this Inter Valley walk 105.

I have IGC maps 115 /108 /109 on order but they will be a few weeks before they arrive. Map 108 might be even longer. Meanwhile my son needs to get planning for a mini-exped with some chums for the end of July. So if any of you can offer advice, suggest overnights, map loans please message me. (I wouldn't dare suggest scanning maps least it infringe copyright.) (Honestly.)

Edited: 13/06/2012 at 10:28

Andinista

13/06/2012 at 10:29

I've done a fair bit of walking in Italy, though not the specific walk you're talking about.

A few general points though.

Wildcamping isn't the done thing. I'm sure it's possible in some places, but the Alps are generally pretty populated places and rifugios are plentiful. Most Italian rifugios I've been to do excellent food at decent prices, you're usually never further than a couple of hours walk from one.

Most trails are well marked and well signposted. Often signs will indicate how long it will take to get to a particular point rather than the distance. In my experience these times have been spookily accurate.

Trails usually follow fairly obvious lines, particularly in the Alps. I've yet to encounter areas where losing the trail is likely or nav would be a issue (in normal visibility/weather/circumstances).

Therefore I've managed okay without comprehensive mapping. Kompass maps have been enough for me. and they are easily available in Italy. Not that I'd advise going out without a good map, but it's been less of an issue than in the UK because of the nature of the terrain and the quality of trail marking.

That said, here's a signpost I enountered down in Abruzzo:

Edited: 13/06/2012 at 10:34

Andinista

13/06/2012 at 10:33

Ooh, and in the Valle d'Aosta having a Grolla or "friendship cup" in a bar or rifugio is a must do!

Edited: 13/06/2012 at 10:34

ALoveSupreme

13/06/2012 at 10:35

Here is what looks like a decent link to your sons proposed walk. Italian maps (ime) have a somewhat creative aspect - not for them the rigours and precision of the O.S - but trails like the one your lad is considering are usually superbly waymarked - you just follow the red and white numbered blobs of paint. None of that boy scout counting paces nonsense. Couldn't be nicer or easier. If he's going at a time when snow might still be an issue it might be worth budgeting time to find out what conditions are like locally, or phoning the rifugi/local tourist offices close to departure.

geekinthesticks

13/06/2012 at 11:01

Haven't been to the region you are visiting. However, when we went to Sella a couple of years ago the Kompass maps were fine. As Andinista says the trail markings are generally excellent.

Eating in the Rifugios can work out expensive. Food is good and fair value for money, considering the effort involved in getting it to the hut. However, if you are a family of five, it can considerably lighten your wallet.

Grumps

13/06/2012 at 12:23

Just the stuff I needed to hear - very reassuring. That's a better site than the one I'd been using ALS - thanks. Should they expect snow in July? - probably not at that altitude I'd have thought but I've no experience of the Alps. Unless driving across the Swiss side in an old MG counts.I think the lads plan to use rifugios, so I'll warn them to budget accordingly. And I'll mention the Grolla - although I'm sure they will soon learn of it themselves. There will be four 17/18 year olds who claim to be going solely for the trek, but also taking in a few cities for "cultural expansion". Ahh, the dreams of youth! Meanwhile Sonny Jim is picking out the paths on Google Earth, and you're right Andinista, they do seem to be fairly well trodden.

Andinista

13/06/2012 at 12:36

I'd say they shouldn't expect snow, but be prepared for patches of old snow and/or freak snowfall just the same...

Andinista

13/06/2012 at 12:38

Dorm beds in the rifugios aren't cheap, so they should be ready for that. Wine is cheaper than beer in Italy. By some way in most places. Local amaro digestifs are worth a try, purely for the health benefits of course. Watch out for grumpy French hikers in the huts, they go to bed early and hate "noise".

ALoveSupreme

13/06/2012 at 13:13

Grumps - from my quick read of the route it seemed to go to about 2700m, at which height you can certainly expect patches of old/hard snow at the end of July but it depends on the route and which way it faces. It doesn't seem to be a via ferrata or anything tricky, so draw your own conclusions about the risk. Like I said, I'd enquire locally - phone a rifugi. Here's another link btw. I'm living in Venice right now, from where I can see the snowy tops of the Dolomites on a good day - hope to be there in a month or two. That's if the earthquakes and tornados don't get me - we've had several strong earthquakes in the last fortnight and a tornado a couple of days ago. The earthquakes are moving towards the Alps! The epicentre of the last one was in Belluno ..

Edited: 13/06/2012 at 13:14

Andinista

13/06/2012 at 13:44

I'm in Milan at the moment and have felt the last few earthquakes. Woken up at 4am by one of them!

A few weeks back there was fresh snowfall down to about 1200m. But that'd all gone when I was last in the hills a couple of weeks back. I'll be up again tomorrow so will have a look at where the snowline seems to be...

Can see the hills in the OP (Monte Rosa etc) from my window,on a good day, and there's certainly snow there, as always, but couldn't tell you till how low...

geekinthesticks

13/06/2012 at 14:59

If they are planning on staying in rifugios for several nights, it might be worth while joining something that gives them a discount on hut fees. Not sure if the Austrian Alpine Club has reciprocal rights in Italy, but joining them gives you rescue insurance too.