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Long Distance Hiking
· Pennine Alps
GTA stages: Forno - Sant'Antonio (Alagna)
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Alpe BarancaPhoto: Joachim Altenhein, DAV Sektion Berlin
This section of the GTA (Grande Traversata delle Alpi, approximately 65 stages in total) leads through a mountain region where the valleys were settled by Walser (from the Swiss Valais) in the 12th-14th centuries.
The entire area has been experiencing a population decline for 100 years, which is still ongoing. What is bad for the inhabitants is a pleasure for the hiker and holidaymaker. While in other parts of the Alps every alp is accessible by car, here almost exclusively old mule tracks lead through the mountains. Mass tourism and car noise are foreign words here. Instead, hospitality is highly valued in every inn and the food leaves nothing to be desired.
The technical difficulties of the hikes are low. Few places require some surefootedness. However, you have to overcome about 1000 meters of elevation daily. The stages are about 5 hours long. The main hiking season is July to early September.
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
The stages often offer no intermediate descent, so you should observe the weather carefully.
The IGC maps contain many serious errors in the routing of the GTA. One of the two hiking books on the GTA is therefore mandatory reading, also because of the extensive accommodation directories (scan and store on your smartphone, this saves weight). A smartphone with offline maps (OpenStreetmap, apps available in the relevant app store) is very helpful. In airplane mode, the smartphone easily lasts two days. A protective cover for the phone is mandatory. Especially in bad weather, you need the help of GPS.
Accommodations must be booked in advance, at the latest the day before, otherwise, you may quickly find yourself in front of a full accommodation and have to continue hiking. Moreover, the small accommodations must prepare dinner in time. A timely cancellation is therefore a matter of course.
Tips and suggestions
Central contact point for all GTA questions: http://www.klingenfuss.org/gta.htm
Information on paths and stage accommodations: http://gtapiemonte.it/de/
Roadbook
While the official route of the GTA starts with 2 long stages and one self-catered overnight stay, we start very relaxed from Forno in the Strona valley.
GTA: Access Forno - Campello Monti
Beautiful valley hike as an introductory route for GTA hikers
The somewhat idiosyncratic stage numbering in the headings follows the hiking guide by Werner Bätzing and begins with the 3rd official GTA stage. Unfortunately, the Rother hiking guide uses a different numbering.
GTA stage 3: Campello Monti - Rimella
Transition from valley to valley over beautiful pastures with a great view from the Bocchetta di Campello to the Monte Rosa
GTA stage 4: Rimella - Alpe Baranca
The GTA stage first leads onto the grassy ridge La Res into the neighboring valley. You hike through forest, which has reclaimed previously cultivated terraces. Then it goes up to the Alpe Baranca.
GTA stage 5: Alpe Baranca - Carcoforo
A beautiful mountain stage over wide alpine pastures to Col d'Egua (viewpoint) and descent to Carcoforo.
A beautiful hike over the Colle del Termo. The hike first leads through light forest, then through low shrubs and soon over alpine meadows to the Colle del Termo 2351m.
GTA stage 7: Rima - Alagna - S. Antonio in Valle Vogna
A long hike over the Colle Mud, through the ski resort Alagna to the Walser valley Val Vogna.
Those who have to end the GTA here will surely get off already in Alagna, as there are many possibilities to leave or to reach the car at the starting point by bus and train.
The continuation is described in GTA stages: Sant'Antonio (Alagna) - Aosta valley.
Tagliaferro Camere, Rima
Museo Walser
Museo Giovanni Battista Filippa
Fontana Hotel Ristorante Rimella
Walser Museum
Museo Naturalistico Parco Nazionale Alta Valsesia
Carcoforo
Osteria delle Piana
Hotel Ristorante Fontana
Public transport
Arrival:
- Train line Novara – Domodossola (long-distance trains from Switzerland and Germany, connections to Milan and Turin), get off at Omegna station.
- Then vcotrasporti LINEA 18: OMEGNA - FORNO (Timetable 2018)
- Alternatively, a taxi from Omegna or, if you are lucky (and have arranged it in advance), you can get a ride with the innkeeper (see Albergo del Leone).
Departure:
- Information from the Alagna Tourism Office: https://www.alagna.it/en/how-to-reach-us/
- LINEA 50: VERCELLI - GATTINARA - BORGOSESIA - VARALLO - ALAGNA: http://www.atapspa.it/wp-content/themes/atapspa/orari/orario_50.pdf
- Bus line ALAGNA NOVARA MILAN: http://www.baranzelli.it/OrariPDF/alagnamilanoar.pdf
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Grande Traversata delle Alpi North, Werner Bätzing, ISBN 978-3-85869-811-7, 8th edition
GTA – Grande Traversata delle Alpi: Through Piedmont to the Mediterranean. 65 stages. With GPS tracks. (Rother hiking guide), Iris Kürschner, ISBN: 978-3763344024, Bergverlag Rother; edition: 3rd, updated version 2015 (July 2, 2015)
For those who want to deal more closely with the history and development of the valley, here are many details:
Cultural landscape or wilderness in the Alps? Case studies in the Val Grande National Park and the Strona valley (Piedmont/Italy)
Authors: Franz Höchtl, Susanne Lehringer, Werner Konold
1st edition 2005 Haupt Verlag ISBN: 978-3-258-06927-2
Author’s map recommendations
IGC 10, Monte Rosa, Alagna e Macugnaga, hiking map 1:50,000
National Geographic map booklet Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA), Part 1 – North, 1:25,000, Piedmont, EAN: 9788869851742
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
The route requires mountain boots and typical hut equipment. Rain jacket and pants (or equivalent) are a matter of course. In June and into July, you may still have to expect snowfields in parts. Hiking poles are certainly not a mistake there. In summer, a sun hat must not be missing, as well as a hydration system or water bottle.
Since most accommodations do not accept card payments and there are only a few ATMs on the route, you must bring enough cash.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
Lovely valley hike as an introductory route for GTA hikers
Passage from valley to valley over beautiful meadows with a great view from the Bocchetta di Campello of Monte Rosa
The GTA stage leads over the grassy ridge La Res into the neighboring valley and then up to the Alpe Baranca.
A beautiful mountain stage over wide alpine meadows to the Col d'Egua (view) and descent to Carcoforo
A beautiful hike over the Colle del Termo.
A long hike over the Colle Mud, through the ski resort Alagna to the Walser valley Val Vogna.
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