Overview
The fifth stage leads from Balme to Rifugio Gastaldi.
The most famous itinerary in Val d’Ala. Crossing the scenic Pian della Mussa, the trail ascends in the presence of the Uja di Ciamarella and leads to the foot of the Uja Bessanese, where one of the oldest refuges in the Alps is located.
Starting point
DirectionsFrom the village of Balme, follow trail 220, which begins by turning onto a small bridge to the left after a few hundred meters on the paved road. The path climbs the orographic right bank of the stream until it rejoins the road upon reaching Pian della Mussa, a stunning basin nearly 3 kilometers long. Cross the entire plain heading west, with the imposing eastern face of Uja di Ciamarella (3,676 m) directly ahead, until you reach the trailhead located just below Rifugio Città di Ciriè.
The route enters an obvious breach known as the Canale delle Capre (Goat Channel), which overcomes a rocky step via steep switchbacks. Some fixed chains are present and prove useful if the ground is wet. This leads to the Piano dei Morti, a panoramic balcony overlooking the entire upper Val d’Ala.
From here, the gradient eases as the trail continues with a long traverse, followed by a series of hairpins and a section equipped with chains. Shortly after, you arrive in the magnificent glacial basin that houses Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi (2,658 m), at the foot of the majestic Bessanese. The refuge also hosts a branch of the Turin Mountain Museum, located in a separate building that served as the original refuge.
For those with extra energy, a 30-minute walk leads to the summit of Rocca Turo (2,758 m), a beautiful viewpoint offering a vista over the Ciamarella glacier and the surrounding ring of peaks.
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