Alta Via dei Re, stage 5: from Refuge Genova Figari to Refuge Soria-Ellena
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Alta Via dei Re, stage 5: from Refuge Genova Figari to Refuge Soria-Ellena5. Alta Via dei Re, stage 5: from Refuge Genova Figari to Refuge Soria-Ellena
Medium
Difficulty3h30
Duration8,9km
Distance+561m
Positive Elevation-747m
Negative ElevationWalking breaks
Course typeEmbed this item to access it offline
After the Chiotas basin, where you cross a small flat basin covered with meadows, this route is characterized by steep slopes covered with grass and steep rocky walls. It is common to meet groups of ibexes and chamois near the pass.
5 points of interest
Architecture
The Genova Figari Refuge
To valorize the hiking trails along the Argentera Massif, in the last years of the nineteenth century the Liguria chapter of CAI decided to build a refuge near the upper Gias del Monighet, in the Vallone della Rovina. The Genova Refuge, as it was named, was inaugurated on 15 August 1898.
But the fate of the first refuge in the Maritime Alps was definitively sealed in 1968: the reservoir of the new Chiotas dam would submerge it permanently. ENEL assumed the task of building another refuge, which was inaugurated in 1981.
The refuge is named for Bartolomeo Figari, who as Secretary General of CAI saw both the successful conquest of K2 and the birth of the National Alpine Rescue Corps, to which he bequeathed all his worldly goods.
Flora
The cleared meadows
At the highest altitudes there are cleared meadows, the typical alpine pastures; they are composed of herbaceous species capable of covering soils normally closed to woody species, which, due to the very short vegetative period, cannot find suitable conditions for their development. Grazing by wild ungulates and, sometimes, by domestic sheep affects their composition, even if the most severe factor for species selection is represented by the climate.
Fauna
Colle di Fenestrelle, as well as the surrounding area, is very popular with the ibex.
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), frequents alpine meadows and rock faces even above 3000 m, reaching the valley floor (provided it is not wooded) only in early spring, to be able to refresh itself after the long winter. Both sexes have annual growth horns, but much larger in males. The coat, light beige in summer, darkens to dark brown in winter.
Sedentary, grazing, it essentially feeds on grass, integrated with mosses, lichens and leaves of mountain shrubs, especially in winter.
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), frequents alpine meadows and rock faces even above 3000 m, reaching the valley floor (provided it is not wooded) only in early spring, to be able to refresh itself after the long winter. Both sexes have annual growth horns, but much larger in males. The coat, light beige in summer, darkens to dark brown in winter.
Sedentary, grazing, it essentially feeds on grass, integrated with mosses, lichens and leaves of mountain shrubs, especially in winter.
History and historical trail
The Fenestrelle shelter
The ruins near the pass mark the site of the Fenestrelle shelter, named for Lieutenant Angelo Bertolotti. Built in 1888 and in use until the Second World War, it could house a garrison of 10 on straw pallets. In their guidebook, entitled "La Valle Gesso", the Boggias indicate the shelter as being instead dedicated "to the memory of Angelo Bortolo, of the 1∞ Reg. of the Alpine Corps, who was killed on the Ortigara during the First World War".
Fauna
The Ibex of the Alps
Colle di Fenestrelle, as well as the surrounding area, is very popular with the ibex.
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), frequents alpine meadows and rock faces even above 3000 m, reaching the valley floor (provided it is not wooded) only in early spring, to be able to refresh itself after the long winter. Both sexes have annual growth horns, but much larger in males. The coat, light beige in summer, darkens to dark brown in winter.
Sedentary, grazing, it essentially feeds on grass, integrated with mosses, lichens and leaves of mountain shrubs, especially in winter.
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), frequents alpine meadows and rock faces even above 3000 m, reaching the valley floor (provided it is not wooded) only in early spring, to be able to refresh itself after the long winter. Both sexes have annual growth horns, but much larger in males. The coat, light beige in summer, darkens to dark brown in winter.
Sedentary, grazing, it essentially feeds on grass, integrated with mosses, lichens and leaves of mountain shrubs, especially in winter.
Description
From the refuge, follow the road that connects it to the bottom of the valley until the junction indicated for Colle Fenestrelle. The mule track begins with a few steps, crosses a grassy meadow and climbs hairpin on the undulating slopes of the right orographic Fenestrelle valley. At 2128 m altitude, the mule track forks northwards, approaching the base of the ridge (Rocce di Laura) which forms the northern slope of the valley.
Continuing with other hairpin bends, the mule track rises on small grassy plots and stony ground, then turns right again, halfway down the slope, on the steep slopes of Rocce di Laura.
After crossing the many valleys that cut the slopes of Ciamberline and Fenestrelle points, the mule track curves south across the centre of the valley; then, with a final series of hairpin bends, it climbs up to the scree that leads to Colle Fenestrelle (2463 m - 1h30 from the refuge).
There is a fantastic view to the southeast over the Gelàs and to the northwest over the Argentera.
The route descends towards the Gesso della Barra valley, brushing the modest but very suggestive Fenestrelle lake (at the end of the normally dry season). With a beautiful route, the path runs along the slope that ends at Punta delle Lobbie and leaves it at about 2300 meters. After having abandoned the path that leads to the Gias Confurri or Confucci (2281 m), the path ends with numerous turns to the Gias Balmetta (2156 m) in the center of the valley of Fenestrelle.
The mule track regularly loses altitude and passes near the Gias Alvé (1840 m) from where one reaches the track which, from San Giacomo di Entracque, climbs the Gesso della Barra valley to the refuge. From Gias del Praiet it is possible to shorten the long loop that the track makes by following straight on the path that climbs the escarpment at the foot of the refuge.
Continuing with other hairpin bends, the mule track rises on small grassy plots and stony ground, then turns right again, halfway down the slope, on the steep slopes of Rocce di Laura.
After crossing the many valleys that cut the slopes of Ciamberline and Fenestrelle points, the mule track curves south across the centre of the valley; then, with a final series of hairpin bends, it climbs up to the scree that leads to Colle Fenestrelle (2463 m - 1h30 from the refuge).
There is a fantastic view to the southeast over the Gelàs and to the northwest over the Argentera.
The route descends towards the Gesso della Barra valley, brushing the modest but very suggestive Fenestrelle lake (at the end of the normally dry season). With a beautiful route, the path runs along the slope that ends at Punta delle Lobbie and leaves it at about 2300 meters. After having abandoned the path that leads to the Gias Confurri or Confucci (2281 m), the path ends with numerous turns to the Gias Balmetta (2156 m) in the center of the valley of Fenestrelle.
The mule track regularly loses altitude and passes near the Gias Alvé (1840 m) from where one reaches the track which, from San Giacomo di Entracque, climbs the Gesso della Barra valley to the refuge. From Gias del Praiet it is possible to shorten the long loop that the track makes by following straight on the path that climbs the escarpment at the foot of the refuge.
Departure : Refuge Genova Figari (2009 m)
Arrival : Refuge Soria-Ellena (1840 m)
Towns crossed : Entracque
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Is in the midst of the park
The national park is an unrestricted natural area but subjected to regulations which must be known by all visitors.
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