Location: Alpi Cozie, Piemonte, Italy

Description

It is one of my favorite and traditional alpine route in both winter and summer time. I like to return here as soon as I can because it is possible to be in a real alpine environment within just 30 minutes from the valley and the cities.

The parking area at Alpe del Colombino was free of snow and the air temperature was quite warm for the period. I started around 12:45 p.m. with a quite good weather: just some clouds coming from South-West.

The snow was absent for the first two curves (about 100 m of elevation). At ca 1350 m a.s.l., I put on the mini-crampons in order to avoid any slip over the quite icy snow. I climbed fast following the icy tracks left by snowshoes and ski mountaineers in the previous days.

After the abandoned Intermedio station at ca 1850 m a.s.l., I followed the usual ridge with the snow very icy and compact. There were not any specific technical difficulties. For the last 100 m of elevation, I went straight towards the little abandoned cottage, just before the final ridge.

The final ridge always required a bit of more caution, avoiding the accumulated snow on the left side. At the cross on the top of the mountain, it was possible to have on one side a great view towards Monviso (3841 m) and southwestern Alps and on the other side towards the Rocciamelone (3538 m) and the northwestern Alps.

I made the descent running on the same route of the ascent.

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General Information

Activity type: snow-running

Start Date: 03/01/2020

Start time: 12:45 p.m.

Start Point: Parking at Alpe del Colombino

Altitude (at start): ca 1260 m

Altitude (at highest point): 2119 m a.s.l.

Cumulative Gain+: ca 860 m

Cumulative Loss -: ca 860 m

Distance: ca 9 km

Air Temperature (at start): ca 6°C

Air Temperature (at highest point): ca 0°

Weather Conditions: partially cloudy

Snow Conditions: icy and compact

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Equipment Information

Shoes Type: Tecnica X-Lite 2.0 Rush Elite (Size: UK 9 / EU 43 1/3; Color: Yellow)

Crampon Type: Nortec Micro Crampons (Size: XL; Color: Gray)

Socks: Mico Primaloft Superthermo (Size: 41-43; Color: Black)

Shorts: Montura long pants – Nordic Ski (Size: S; Color: Black)

Vest: Montura (Size: S; Color: Black)

T-Shirt: Montura Long Sleeves – Nordic Ski (Size: S; Color: Black)

Wind/rain jacket: Montura (Size: M; Color: Blue)

Gloves: Craft (Color: Yellow)

Backpack: Salomon Skin Pro 15L (Size: M; Color: Blue)

Drink Equipment: Salomon Hydrapak Soft Flask 500 ML Speed (Quantity: 1)

Food: Not used

GPS: Suunto Ambit 2 Black

Headwear: 8848 cap (Color: Blue)

Glasses: Kalenji

Trail Running Poles: Not used

Headlamp: Not used

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Additional Information

If you want more information or technical details related to this mountain path, please do not hesitate to contact me or comment below.

Kind Regards

Andrea De Filippo

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Other information about hiking and Trail-Running in Italy at the following link: Trail Running (and hiking) to explore Italy | EmigranTrailer

Update: 27/12/2020