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Gran Paradiso 4061m

pikec123. 06. 2008 21:44:51

Nice weather (Saturday and Sunday 21 and 22.6) we used for visiting the long-planned Gran Paradiso. After 750km drive we finally arrived in Pont (at 11h) at the end of Valsavarenche valley. After less than two hours walking through beautiful landscape we arrived at refuge Vittorio Emanuele, already full of people. Beautiful views of surrounding peaks, a bit of soaking in the lake. At the hut we jumped around the area a bit, went a bit higher for acclimatization to 3100m, and again in the evening around 20h, rest in between. Slept outside on benches, because everything was booked till end of season. Around 1.00 we set off first towards the summit. Path not demanding, but needs caution and lots of fitness, because the path is long. Arrived at summit shortly after sunrise. Little space on top, can be dangerous for vertigo sufferers due to sheer walls on the other side. Mary statue almost unvisited due to snow on ,,that little shelf,, with drop. View fantastic all around, pleasure indescribable. Then path down to the car (2100m height). Since we were among first, met lots of parties on the way (counted about 70 people), would have been big crowd at top. Happy return to valley and home. In the end: AWESOME

Gran Paradiso 4061m many waterfalls and streams

Gran Paradiso 4061m Refuge Vittorio Emanuele

Gran Paradiso 4061m hut illuminated by sunset

Gran Paradiso 4061m Mont Blanc left and sunrise

Gran Paradiso 4061m shadow of Gran Paradiso

Gran Paradiso 4061m us two with Monti behind

Gran Paradiso 4061m and Mont Blanc up close

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medo*7. 07. 2009 23:55:26

Pont – Vittorio Emanuele – Gran Paradiso
On Saturday, 4.7. we arrived in Pont in the afternoon with a colorful group. Since you need to reserve accommodation in the Vittorio Emanuele hut months in advance, we slept in the camp in Pont (1960m). Shortly after setting up the tents, it started raining. A small clearing in the sky gave hope that the weather wouldn't let us down tomorrow. At 2:00 a.m. we started the hike. We stopped briefly at the Vittorio Emanuele hut (2735m), where it was already very lively at 4:30, as groups of mountaineers were heading towards the same goal as us. The sunrise greeted us with sun on a clear sky. Summit reached at 10:00.
We walked roped together, following glacier travel rules. Mandatory crampons, ice axe, harness, rope, helmet and sunglasses. The route is not technically demanding, except for the exposed notch at the top. Caution needed on the glacier due to crevasses and at the top due to the steep wall. But the route is long and requires overcoming a lot of elevation gain.
True experience in the right weather nasmeh

Morning crowd at the Vittorio Emanuele hut

Some up, some down. At the summit you have to be a bit careful so that the ropes don't get tangled.

Enjoying on the remote ledge behind the statue of Mary

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andrejjerina8. 07. 2009 05:43:48

Bravo Pikec1 and Medo, I also want to go up there in the future! Congratulations! LP Andrej

rozka8. 07. 2009 12:57:27

And those were all on GP that day velik nasmeh

. I was up there about a year ago, but in a much more depleted group...it was great, congrats to you!

mirank7. 09. 2010 18:50:46

The long-planned ascent finally happened. After a fairly long drive we start slowly in Pont since we're in no hurry, as our goal is just to reach the Vittorio Emanuele hut which means about two hours of easy walking on the mulattiera. Above the hut to the south the first ice giant looms - Tresenta which looks quite impressive from here. Our group has dinner at 7pm and there's no choice of food - eat or lose weight. Here you see order which many of us miss at home. When you're done eating they discreetly tell you to move and make space for the next group, as the hut is constantly at full capacity. By eight most are heading to rest, others soon after dinner, nowhere is there shouting or disturbing those already sleeping. Wake-up at 4 but when exiting I already see flickering lights high on the slope; the most diligent are already at work. Well, the sky view fills us with joy, as after a nice Saturday obviously a nice Sunday awaits us. The first hours of ascent are done on foot with light. Walking on moraine and heavily scattered granite terrain passes quickly. At the glacier edge we gear up and continue roped to the goal. The first sun rays reveal wonderful views of the surroundings and beyond. In the distance the visible giant dominating the surroundings is surely HIM. Time flies and soon we're in a real crowd of waiting people for the final ascent on exposed dry granite slabs, no room for those descending. Well finally we get the chance to hug Mary at the summit. For more there's no space anyway for our group of five. Views divine on the entire Alpine chain from west to Mont Rose in the east, only to the southeast from the sea of clouds stick out peaks over 3000m. Previously so impressive Tresenta about 3600m above the hut seems quite dwarfed from here. The descent itself with heart pounding passes quickly and pasta in the hut with a beer falls on grateful ground. Descent to the car and drive home is no longer a problem at least after such experiences.

andrejjerina7. 09. 2010 21:05:21

Congratulations! LP Andrej

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giti14. 09. 2010 21:49:34

Everything that "mirank" wrote I can 100% confirm, since I was there too velik nasmeh

. So, on September 5th we four pleasure-seekers with a mountain guide puffed up to the mentioned summit. Sunny weather, clear sky, beautiful views on the way and from the top, good company, in short perfection from all angles. I would recommend this route to everyone for starting to conquer 4000ers, of course good fitness is needed since the route is quite long. And don't go without accompaniment of suitably experienced people, because on the glacier it's no joke. The most exposed spot is at the very top, the passage to Mary. And a few pictures that say the most. In short, we were at the right time, in the right place. LP!

Small Mary statue, Mont Blanc in the background

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andrejjerina14. 09. 2010 22:47:35

GITI, NOTHING TO ADD, CONGRATS! lp ANDREJ

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Jože.15. 09. 2010 06:44:58

medo* - then there were quite a few Slovenians on the summit that day. We also went direct from Pont.

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medo*15. 09. 2010 08:24:08

Obviously there were many of us that day who wanted to go up mežikanje

Lpp, Medo

Parkeljc15. 06. 2011 15:11:57

On Monday 13.6.2011 we set off from Pont to Vittorio Emanuele hut. Overnight in the hut, then early in the morning to the summit. Snow started about 20 min from the hut to the summit and was well frozen, sinking only rarely, although there was a track. Good that we started among the first, because for the final push to the summit we'd have had to wait a very long time. In general, the summit was conquered in parties, which takes some time, especially as at the statue there is no space for more than 5 people. Since impatient ones pushed through the dangerous part to the summit anyway, we had no choice but to abseil a few meters down the vertical rock to the snowfield, then a few steps to the path. Weather wonderful (we ordered it velik nasmeh

), all major peaks around very visible from Mt Blanc, Matterhorn,..

Mont Blanc disappears in the embrace of fluff

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pikec115. 06. 2011 15:53:27

Bravo for successful ascent nasmeh

How close did you get to this, or what did you take it with? Thanks
Grega

sin narave15. 06. 2011 16:03:50

Bravo!!!!

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zamet26. 07. 2011 14:07:19

With my colleague we set off on Sunday when it was still raining quite heavily at home across Milan and Aosta to starting point Pont (camp) for Gran Paradiso. Started around half past six in the evening and at eight already at hut 2735m where we got accommodation without prior booking but with lots of luck they had only two beds left on shared mattresses. Then in the morning around half past four start in column, mostly in parties we not because not needed, some had big trouble with ropes when tangled in them. Snow starts around 3000m and at ca. 3200m crampons on and go, weather super because we didn't book accommodation before but weather yes and everything turned out great.
Must thank Parkelc for useful tips.

The clock is already well past nine but still the sun

well, it also goes like this, at about 2900m.

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dolina26. 07. 2011 20:45:01

Congrats, you two are good.
You have summit pic, I have some questions.

Stefano20. 08. 2012 20:23:05

19 August 2012 at 9.30 on summit

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ibex20. 08. 2012 20:59:55

come on post another pic if you have...

jani5826. 08. 2012 19:03:15

A team of eleven hikers set off to Italy. Past Milan to Aosta Valley, nine hours drive. The start is Pont Breuil where the camp is. From the camp in the afternoon along the mulattiera to hut Vittorio Emanuele, overnight there. Weather very nice, temperature over thirty degrees. Hut very solid with good service and lots of drinking water. In the morning depart at four and quickly reach the col where we rope up. Make two parties and step onto glacier which doesn't look demanding. First party with six hikers faster than ours and all progress nicely between deep crevasses to summit. At top crowd but very nice views. On return very strong sun melting snow. So new crevasses uncovered that weren't visible before. As we slowly descend hear helicopter flying over glacier. Immediately think of our first party if something wrong. After steep descent already see rescuers and sadly our hikers standing by crevasse. Silence and sadness when learn our colleague Boris sadly dead in crevasse. Follows descent past hut to valley, don't know how it went. Boris had many plans including ascent of Mont Blanc. We'll never forget him, always with us.