Graian Alps (Italy-France), 5-14 August 2016
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Day three. Glacier du Baounet – Col de la Valette – Colle del Sole.
The ascent to Col de la Valette is straightforward although there is no path on the French side. Ascend on the snow-free, crevasse-free Glacier du Baounet and veer east at the top of the glacier. Follow the south bank of a valley up to the pass. The path from the path down to Refuge Cibrario is well marked. The path is steep but straightforward. The ascent from the refuge to Colle del Sole is well marked but crosses moraines so takes time. The path down towards the Autoret lakes is also marked but is different from what was shown on our maps.
The red line shows our track. The arrow shows direction of travel. The "P" icon shows our camping spot. Shift-click on the track link will open it in nakarte.me.
Pointe de Charbonnel in the morning. Amazingly, the weather is still sunny. We have never had such good weather in the mountains. The mountains are coloured: some rocks are really green.
While we were packing our backpacks, the sun came out frmo behind the peask and we started walking towards Glacier du Baounet.
The lake is still covered with a thin layer of ice.
We put on crampons and went to explore a crevasse. We heard a bang as a large chunk of ice fell.
Ready to go further!
Walking on the ice is quick and easy; unlike moraines, there are no boulders here.
We did not see a soul in this valley, this glacier belongs to us and nobody else!
At the top of the glacier, we turned left towards Col de la Valette (3212 m).
Last glimpse of the glacier - wish we could stay here forever!
Taking off the crampons.
Col de la Valette. The clouds are rising from Italy. Move the mouse over the image to see annotations.
A rest break... Enjoying the sun.
Lago Pera Ciaval low down is our destination - lunch was promised by the lakeside!
The bravest team members went for a swim in the lake. The others just wetted their feet.
Descending to Refuge Сibrario (2616 m). The weather forecast displayed in the refuge was very promising. We were warned about the shortage of drinking water higher up. In reality we did not have any problems with the water, you can always find some streams. The water in the lake where we camped was not clear, so we took water from a stream coming off a melting snow field.
We are climbing up from the refuge. Crossing a snow field.
This is Colle del Sole, our next pass.
This picture shows the lake where we camped, Col de l'Autaret (our next pass), and Pointe Costans (which Yasha visited the next day).
The girls are throwing stones...
...at Yasha while he is slicing the onions!
Our dinner table this evening was decorated with forget-me-not flowers.
This evening was amazing. Zoom in to see our camp by the lake (in the left corner of the picture).
Sunset.
The lake in the evening.
