Nearly highest up on the Monte Rosa, Europe's other highest mountain after the Mont Blanc. It is a Rifugio, with sleeping rooms and a restaurant, and it is used by alpinists during their expeditions. It lies at the amazing height of 4554 m above the sea.
This a technically easy climbing to go there, but you need good physical conditions because of the length and the height. And you must not be afraid of the exposure of the trail. The view from here is astounding, with the entire Alps around you and a sea of clouds down under your feet. The stars in the night are brighter then we are used to see in our overlighted cities. This is wilderness on a high level, but with the Italian food and wines culture as a bonus!
Program
Wednesday we go with the transfer to Alagna Valsesia where we will lodge at a very nice hotel, Hotel Montagna di Luce. We find all the comfort that we will need for the climbing and for the restoration of our body after the ascent.
Thursday we are going to spend hiking at the height of around 3000 m to allow us to acclimatize a little bit. In the evening we sleep at the Rifugio Vigevano, a beautiful place at 2890 m above the sea, with very nice owners who can tell all about kings and mountain people, and at the same time serve a delicious dinner. We have also packed a backpack with clothes and other important things for our top tour (details come later).
Friday we will meet our guide and wear all the necessary equipment for the tour. We take the Gondola of Punta Indren or climb up the mines of the Stolemberg and on glaciers and rocks to Rifugio Mantova (3500 m) or Capanna Gnifetti (3600 M) where we will stay for the night. It is a technically easy tour, but on partially exposed trails and we go with a mountain guide.
We sleep here if we can sleep (it can be difficult to sleep at this height) and wake up early for a good breakfast. In the refuge we are going to meet alll kind of alpinists from all over the world.
Saturday morning we will start our tour very early, before down, and we will climb up the 1000 m left to Capanna Margherita. The trip is long and it is very heavy to go at this height, but the view over the mountain, becoming red for the strikes of the first rays of light, is magical. It is nearly a spiritual experience!
After a while at this magnificent rifugio, really hanging over a thousend meter cliff, it is time for us to go back to civilisation again. We go to Punta Indren around 3200 m and from here we take the cable car in the afternoon to Alagna and to our Hotel Montagna di Luce to restore our tired bodies.
Sunday we go around for shopping and touristing in Alagna and prepare us for our way back home.
Details
When: mid June-mid September
Price: € 1000 per person
Max/min persons: 2-4 persons for each mountain guide
Included: Transfer, 4 nights in hotel/refuge, 4 dinners, 4 breakfasts, guide, technical equipment, lifts
Extras: Lunches and all that is not mentioned in the included section
Required: Good physical condition, backpack and high mountain trekking shoes
Special programs: We can tailor your tour to Capanna Margherita as you wish.
Photos:
Other information: We arrange also the summit to Polluce and Castor for not experienced persons, and will be happy to help with summit preparation and program for experienced mountaineers for the other peaks of Monte Rosa, as well as for Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso. Contact us for more details.