Hikes in Issime

Fourth stage of the Sentieri del Lys in the Aosta Valley

Under the Spell of Monte Rosa & Co The combination of an adventurous ridge route and cultural hiking makes the loop presented here a particularly varied experience. Mountain Wilderness was founded in Biella in 1987. In keeping with this spirit, the first part of the tour takes place, while the second part is more focused on culture. The Alta Via delle Alpi Biellese, with its daring route across the rugged ridge separating the Aosta and Piedmont regions, is a true challenge. In some sections, the route is equipped like a via ferrata, but it also requires a lot of free boulder climbing. In addition to exploring a particularly wild and secluded part of the Western Alpine arc, it is above all the panoramic views that inspire awe. Because the Alps rise here directly from the Po Valley to high elevations, the view stretches into infinite distances, following the Alpine arc far into the distance as it drapes itself like a wall around the lowlands. At Mombarone, the final cornerstone of the ridge stretching south from the Monte Rosa massif, the Alta Via delle Alpi Biellese begins, following a ridge line—sometimes more, sometimes less exposed—all the way to the Cervo Valley, the northwesternmost corner of the Biellese region. Three days on the trail between sky and rock, from hut to hut. All the great peaks line up on the horizon: Bernina, Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso, Monviso… and to the south, at your feet, the sea of lights on the plain glitters at night. The remaining days of the tour are more relaxed and offer a welcome change of pace. The Grande Traversata delle Alpi—known as the GTA for short—which you’ll encounter in Piedicavallo, the endpoint of the Alta Via, provides an opportunity to explore the lower reaches of the Biellese region as well. It passes through cultural highlights such as Rosazza, a village of remarkable architecture, and the pilgrimage sites of San Giovanni and Oropa, which—like our monastic starting point—also serve as overnight stops along the route.

Easy walk to relax along the small river.

Cultural Paths in the Valley of the Three Languages Among ethnologists and historians, the Lystal, the "Valley of the Three Languages," is considered an extremely interesting cultural area: While the Franco-Provençal-speaking inhabitants were largely able to preserve their language – as in most side valleys of the Aosta region – the lower villages were slowly but steadily Italianized, especially in the minority areas of Italy under Mussolini, due to proximity to the Piedmont plain, the construction of the road, and targeted settlement of southern Italians, so that in Pont-St-Martin, at the entrance to the Lystar valley, one hardly hears the French language anymore. The situation is even more complex because the upper Lystal, from the last meadows below the Lys ridge to Gressoney-St-Jean, was settled in the 13th century by Walser immigrants. The next lower settlement, Gaby, probably has always been Franco-Provençal, whereas Issime is a Walser foundation. The old Eischimertitsch, still spoken by older residents, is barely understandable to German or Swiss tourists since it belongs to Old High German and, unlike the Alemannic language of nearby Gressoney, just 12 km away, has already incorporated many Romance language elements. Our hike leads through the valley, which in its lower section still has an almost primeval, lush vegetation, and into the now almost deserted high valley of the Nielbach.

Departure from San Grato to the ridge of Galm. Then freestyle through the gorges to Chasten and finally down to Cravetto

departure from Piedicavallo, lake of the old woman, pass of the old woman, pass of the Tote, summit of Cresto, pass of the Wolf, Irogna valley, Piedicavallo. difficult tour due to the altitude difference, pay attention on the ridge after the Tote pass

Questa escursione risale un bellissimo vallone disseminato di alpeggi e di baite, molte delle quali ben tenute, ed è consigliabile effettuarla nel periodo autunnale sia per la quota bassa e l'esposizione in pieno sud che per i bei colori con cui sono tinti boschi e pascoli.

Escursione da Issime al Lei Kier nel vallone del Tourrison

PARTENZA: San Grato, Issime (Aosta) (1667 m).ARRIVO: Becca Torché (3016 m)QUOTA MASSIMA: 3016 mDISLIVELLO: 1349 mLUNGHEZZA: 6.2 Km (12.4 Km)DURATA: 4:10 h (7:00 h)

Entre le Lac de Braies dans le Trentin et Belluno en Vénétie, l’Alta Via n. 1 à travers les Dolomites italiennes. Une Haute Route, littéralement. Reculée, préservée et panoramiquedépart hôtel nord du Lac de Braies, dans le Trentin italien, route longeant le lac, sentier marqué "No. 1"