Monte Briccas, 2427m 13-Dic-2010 (Alpes)

Our last adventure of December drove us to Cuneo´s province. We were looking for going some mountain with great views of Monviso, easy and south face due to the really firm of the snow. The Monte Briccas complied with al those requirements.

Our goal seen from the road. As you can see it looks easy but it also offers a good slopes.

We started from a small village close to Crissolo at 1500m. The first part of the ascent consists on going up through the forest at 1800m. Later, the forest is clearing up with just some trees scattered till 1900m. From there we just had to overcome the large slope untill the summit.

Us on the summit of Monte Briccas, with Monviso (3840m).


We doubted about our descent due to the hard snow. We relied on the Sun to melt a little bit the snow in the south face. Our decision was sucessful.

The descent was a peaceful chain of turns towards Monviso.

We had 1000m of vertical drop and 700 of good descent. Good numbers for everybody and specially for Carlos and his third day on skis!

Now it´s time for some parties before leaving Italy...but towards the end of December I´ll be here again to celebrate the Ney Year in Courmayeur!! Good times are coming!!

Ci vedremo! Buona Natale a tutti! Dovrei anche scrivere italiano...Prossimamente forse...

Punta Cia, 2193m 8-Dic-2010 (Alpes)

Carlos and me decided to take advantage of a doubtful day. It was doubtful in two sides: the weather forecast and the few hours slept. Anyway the Alps rules and not early in the morning we were driving to Orco valley.

The day begun luckfully for us (just begun...) because the Sun was shining on our goal where as in the surroundings the day was mostly cloudy. The trail consists of overcoming the wide and easy slopes that run from 1400 in Carello to almost 2200m os Punta Cia or Cialma.

In two ours we reached the summit. We also chose this peak because it offers a wonderful views of Gran Paradiso. The day over there was not so good so we had to imagine it.

On the other side, the day looked absolutly nice.

Carlos going down in the middle part of the descend with Orco valley at the backgrounds.

Another extra day of backcountry before bringing my equipment from Spain. That´s all folks!

Colle di Bousson, 2200m 4-Dic-2010 (Alpes)

New day of finding out the Alps area near to Torino with Carlos. The idea was to drive to a small village close to Cesana. The time travel was a pleasent way along the Susa valley and staring at the summits of each side of the valley.

The day looked cold with -10ºC at 1300m in the morning. This sector is like a circle with some lakes in the center surrounded by summits of 2400m more and less. The idea was to walk to the lake and later reach one of these summits.

Everything went on the good way...when suddenly one of my rented snowshoes was broken. We were on the point of giving up the day due to the deep snow. Anyway, we decided to try going on. We reached much farther that we expected in that moment.

I do not know how, but I got the coll of Bousson with 2200m and 800m on our legs...The descend was slow because of the light slopness but pleasent among the tress, the views of the high mountains and the special light of december´s Sun.

Going back home with different views with monte Chaberton (3110m).

Good day special for Carlos and his first day of backpacking, he is getting on fastly! I have an exam on Tuesday, but later I´ll be ready for more whatever snow issue.

Cima delle Blave, q.2150m 2-Dic-2010 (Alpes)

My opening day in alpine backcountry!

On last thursday I was keen to start mounteneering. I could not wait more for bringing my equipment, so I decided to rent a snowshoes. Anyway I was going to spend money in the skipass so...

I had not my car yet, so I went to bardonecchia (1300m). It is an alpine village in high Valle di Susa. I meet with Valerio in the train station. We had not seen before, but we was talking in the train. He was hesitating wheter coming with me. Finally, he fell into temptation and we went together.

We explored a wide and large ridge that ends in Punta Nera (3042m) in Rho valley. The other side of the valley is closed with Rocca Bernauda as highest peak (3228m).

We stopped at 2150m due to the deep snow. It made difficult our progress. The descend was among the forest with deep and difficult snow like in ski films.

It was a good day with 800m of vertical drop. On Saturday more!