Seven Peaks loop from Val Alba (version with five summits)

This itinerary was traveled on October 2, 2025, and all subsequent observations and considerations fully apply only to that day.

In the following report, the term “guide” refers to “Beyond the trail” by Omar Gubeila, Ilario Morettin, Stefano Piussi, and Daniele Puntel.

↓

From the final parking in Val Alba to Forcella della Pecora

From the final parking in Val Alba, you must ascend to the Alta Via CAI Moggio following the CAI 425 trail until a left hairpin on the small road where, a bit inside, there are remains of a former military shelter from the Great War.

To get here, I took a short initial detour from the small road to pass by the Vualt Refuge, and another marked CAI trail that goes more directly to the former military shelter.

About 50-60 meters after the deviation path to the former military shelter, you must leave the small road for a path that climbs the forest on the right: today I did not see trail marks, and the path starts behind a concrete structure (like a well) that covers a drainage pipe conveying water under the road to protect it during heavy rains.

The path comfortably climbs through the forest until it crosses the base of a wide and steep gully-valley.

You ascend the gully-valley watching for cairns that best guide you through some gravelly stretches but never particularly troublesome.

Thus, you reach the junction with the Alta Via CAI Moggio a short distance from a former military fort on the left relative to the arrival point; however, for this excursion, you turn right.

You proceed along a nice traverse (a bit less pleasant today due to low clouds) until a series of tight hairpins that raise the level approximately to the altitude of Forcella della Pecora – the last hairpin crosses a path that traverses, the Alta Via continues to the right, and Forcella della Pecora is a few steps to the left, with the pointed pyramid of Cima della Pecora clearly visible.

↓

Ascent to Cima della Pecora from Forcella della Pecora

From the pass, you advance a few meters on the Val Gleris side to a niche in the rock with a Crucifix, followed by a red trail mark above a very exposed rocky ledge beneath a section of slightly overhanging wall.

To stay upright, you must carefully hold onto various grips because your back is tilted backward.

According to the guide, and also in my opinion, it is a full II° grade (horizontal).

It is also possible to “crawl,” always carefully because the small cornice of a few meters is narrow and... missing a small section: I tried both methods on the way there and back.

Next follows a gully-valley with an unstable bottom leading to a red arrow that directs left through a short stretch of dwarf pines, after which there are some solid meters on an easy open ridge before moving again left into another dwarf pine stretch.

This way, you enter the final left flank of the ridge line, on a steep stepped diagonal with attention to gravel polluting various footholds.

The most distinctive passage remains: a narrow and twisted notch that must be tackled without poles hanging from the backpack, and in any case with a small backpack if you have not left it at Forcella della Pecora (I left the poles at the pass).

There are various grips/holds to overcome the notch (10 meters according to the guide) with steps that do not reach II° grade, and you can either climb from the start or walk inside it (small backpack) and climb more from the inside.

From the head of the notch, still some steep steps to reach the small summit cross standing... on a tiny summit point.

The summit point is truly airy, and if you do not go alone, you must be very careful when exchanging positions.

↓

From Forcella della Pecora to Cima del Muini

Returning to Forcella della Pecora, you start to climb the opposite slope to Cima della Pecora following red marks and cairns among the first not difficult steps.

Then you encounter a series of rock bits up to I° grade, a traverse to the right, and a grassy section leading under a crack on a rock step with a couple of initial well-gripped II° grade moves.

Following this, you remain on the “steep continuous” with other isolated solid steps of I° and I°+, until reaching under the rock belt of the ridge crest with red paint writings for “Cima d Muini” on the left and “Forc. d Muini” on the right.

Soon you reach Cima del Muini where you can continue a bit further descending gently on the ridge to have different views.

↓

From Cima del Muini to Cima di Mezzo

Back at the red paint writings mentioned above, continue on the “almost ledge traverse” until a steep gully with a “boulder resting like a hat” on the head.

You must climb it with solid I° grade and a well-gripped II° grade exit.

Then descend a “delicate diagonal” where you always fully rest your shoes but must assess various steps due to gravel on footholds and some somewhat crumbly base points.

You reach Forcella del Muini with very brief red paint writings “C. M.I” pointing to the direction of origin from Cima del Muini, and “C. M.Z” directing toward the continuation to Cima di Mezzo.

From Forcella del Muini, you ascend a rocky gully easier than it appears from below up to a final wedged boulder.

To overcome the boulder, a couple of full II° grade moves are needed because arm strength is required; leg balance alone is insufficient — however, the holds are full-hand holds.

Then a few meters of grass until inside another easy gully that goes under the intricate final wall for Cima di Mezzo.

Here, carefully follow the red marks and arrows to maintain the correct line.

At a point where it might still be possible to continue in the gully, there is a red arrow turning left on a diagonal leading through a rock arch.

Well before the arch, however, another angled trail mark turns direction right on a short ledge-ledge reaching under the continuous final rocks well marked by red marks.

Here, the guide writes: “This stretch is the most exposed of the path and consists of a thirty-meter wall, climbed on always compact and articulated rock.”

All true: you stay in I° and some isolated I°+ on solid base with increasing void behind.

At the ridge crest, Cima di Mezzo is a few meters to the left.

↓

From Cima di Mezzo to Cima Alta di Gleris

Back from Cima di Mezzo to the exit point on the ridge crest, continue a few meters to the top of a steep articulated gully descending to the next pass: Forcella di Gleris according to the guide and Forcella del Forame on some maps.

According to the guide, it is 200 meters of descent, and according to my GPS, it is 100 meters or slightly more of linear walking and just over 50 meters of altitude loss.

The start of the descent is “steep and dirty” with some I°+ steps helped by a rope, then the gully remains exposed for a while before descending more gently into the pass (with a large cairn and marker stone).

You start ascending the other side of the pass almost opposite the arrival point, and after a couple of turns, the trail marks guide on a jagged ridge and solid passages perhaps not reaching full I°.

Above, the marks bend from the jagged ridge into a gully with a wedged boulder at the head, exiting right of the boulder with a couple of I° or I°+ steps and generous solid holds.

Then turn left and on the wide area, among grass and isolated rocks, aim for the summit rock belt that supports Cima Alta di Gleris.

Following the marks, you end under the left edge toward the ascent where there is a small pass overlooking a deep and steep (below) north-facing gully.

There is a large cairn leaning on the small pass, and the red marks cause a direction change to descend into the gully about fifteen meters of altitude (steep and a bit slippery, but manageable).

You move right to exit the gully at a small edge with a trail mark and ground trace, traverse a few meters, and find the final direct rock ascent.

The start is II° “not exactly linear nor clean,” but assisted by a rope which I used at the beginning – then continue with more I°+ steps meeting a second rope at the end of the first.

After the first “not linear and not clean” steps, however, I found everything solid and no longer needed the two ropes.

From the end of the ropes, proceed almost comfortably (still exposed) to the summit with a cairn and the signature book container… in a “freezer box” format.

↓

From Cima Alta di Gleris to Monte Chiavals or Cjavals

The guide writes, “This is the most spectacular and rewarding section of the entire itinerary, running along airy ridges, never particularly exposed and often on beautiful rock slabs and wide sections. Small ups and downs alternate with stretches where the ridge narrows, easily bypassable if necessary on the left.”

Nothing more to add: just enjoy it❗😊

And fortunately, at least here today, the Sun 🌞 arrived, making the ridge walk 100% enjoyable.

At Monte Chiavals summit today October 2, there was a hoarfrost of ice on the rudimentary wooden Cross.

↓

Ring closure from Monte Chiavals or Cjavals

The ring closure starts with a direct descent on the trail south toward Bivacco Bianchi, with some steep but never difficult sections: here I took back the poles I’d hung on my backpack since departing Forcella della Pecora heading to Cima del Muini.

Then from Bivacco Bianchi, just relax along the very comfortable CAI 428 and then 428a trails, with a long final stretch in a beautiful forested environment.