Short hike to a prominent steep rock near the valley. Partly secured exposed path.
Called a via ferrata in climbing literature, but is rather a short mountain route with easy climbing sections. Certainly not worth a dedicated trip.
Author’s recommendation
Recommended as a pleasant mini-route during a journey.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
Surefootedness and freedom from dizziness required
Roadbook
100m after the parking lot, a steep gravel road branches off to the right. This is hiked up through the dense chestnut forest in a few switchbacks to the rest area at a tunnel. One switchback further, an unmarked path branches off to the right, passing a small hut and leading northwards over the ridge to the exposed summit rock. Here, follow the wide gravel path to the base of the forepeak ridge. An approximately 8m long (rotten) wooden ladder is climbed up without protection. A thin wire rope supports the few exposed steps into the summit notch. Afterwards, traverse horizontally along a narrow ledge with chain protection on the steep north face to the narrow notch between the Kreuzgipfel and Buchgipfel. The north-side Kreuzgipfel is climbed over a steep small-handhold slab in grade II (4m). Rappel down into the notch, then head southwards on a narrow and steep path for a few meters to the main summit with a red summit register tube. A wooden beam between both summits would also allow balancing over the notch, though without protection.
Descent along the ascent route.
Directions
Take the Turin–Fossano highway or the Alessandria–Asti-Alba highway to Fossano and on the E74 via Cuneo direction Colle di Tende or from Venimiglia on the E74 via Colle di Tende to Vernante. At the traffic light in town, about 1km westward into the Valle Grande.
Parking
Parking lots around a fisherman's hut at the foot of the Croce Moler rock.
Coordinates
Equipment
Hiking equipment
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions