First April weekend skiing in National park Gran Paradiso I.

First weekend in April I went to visit my colleague working now in Annemasse (Fr).
For skitouring there were only two days available, locals has recommended to visit
surroundings of mountain hut Rifugio Vittrorio Sella (2588 m), which is located in National park Gran Paradiso in west part of Aosta valley. According to actual conditions we wanted to summit Gran Serra (3552m) and than to do some descents in hut neighbourhood.

Climb to Rifugio Vitorio Sella
Climb to Rifugio Vitorio Sella

We started from village Valnontay (1666m) around midday on Saturday. Weather was excellent – however for sunbathing.

Rifugio Vitorio Sella – afternoon ascent
Rifugio Vitorio Sella – afternoon ascent

We parked our car on the edge of the village about 300 m after official parking.
Descending skiers confirmed that equipment for glacier travelling is not necessary,
we left it in the car. About 3 p.m. we reached the cottage. After booking dinner
menu and drinking one beer we make two downhills just near cottage. Slope oriented to the sun, snow melted and wet, whereas slope oriented to shade was with crust.

Gran Serra
Gran Serra

There were about 80–90 people in the hut. Hut keeper and his wife were able to
prepare excellent dinner with three dishes for all of us. We got to bed at 10 p.m.

Gran Borec
Gran Borec – author

Hut awoke at about 5.15. All the other has started to summits at 6.15. We got up at 6.30 and breakfast had in completly empty hut. At first we started in Gran Serra
direction.

Ascent to Gran Serra – Rif V.Sella behind Tomín
Ascent to Gran Serra – Rif V.Sella behind Tomín

After some easy climbing, we have to pass narrow stony couloir which lead us to the summit glacier. There was still about 300 altitude meters to Gran Serra. While
reaching the summit some clouds come for a while, covering our top. We could see
some nice downhill traces on the other (northern) side of Gran Serra. For a pity, we were not able to reach this northern descent. Proper climbing equipment would be necesary to manage through stony and mixed terrain.

Ascent to Gran Serra
Ascent to Gran Serra

Descent was done on our uphill traces. Couloir was really narrow, so Tomino choose way little to theleft side, with jump. He was ok, but I was not. I have fall few times, first right after jump. It was not easy to stand up from deep powder snow. Skiing to the hut was fine, but lower snow become softer and softer. We had no more power to make more ascents and had decided to descent to the village. In last section we were squirming to snow till our thighs.

Glacier Tribolazione below Gran Paradisem
Glacier Tribolazione below Gran Paradisem

Description of skialpinism trips are at hut web.

Map of the area: http://www.rifugiochabod.com/…ng/index.php?…
My photos are at: http://bart.own.cz/granparadiso

Downhill from Gran Serra
Downhill from Gran Serra

Parking place Valnontay
Parking place Valnontay

Descent to Valnontay
Descent to Valnontay

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