Cravetto Bivouac, from Issime

Access

Leaving the motorway at the Pont-Saint-Martin exit, after 100m turn right and you will come to a first roundabout, take the second exit. A little further on you come to a second roundabout: take the third exit, and you enter the centre of Pont-Saint-Martin. After a few hundred metres, you will find the beginning of the road to Valle del Lys: turn right and follow it for 13.5 km, passing the villages of Lillianes, Fontainemore and Issime: shortly after the centre, turn right near the Issime primary school, where there is a large car park.

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The directions given here were verified as of the date the route was surveyed. Before setting off, it is advisable to ensure that no substantial changes have occurred on the route to the starting point. We therefore recommend the use of the satellite navigation apps provided by Google or Apple for up-to-date and detailed directions.

Introduction

Beautiful walk on the edge of a stone world. The ascent to the bivouac along the beautiful Stolen valley allows us to enjoy unforgettable moments: unspoilt nature, a beautiful mule track and ancient buildings that lead us to think about how man has coexisted with these territories over the centuries.

Description

0h00' From the car park, cross the regional road and continue straight on along the little communal road for about 100m until you come to the signposts indicating the route to take to the Chasten pass: take a path that passes between the houses of Künju and begins to climb as it enters the wood. After a few minutes you come to a mission cross and from here continue along the first stretch of paved mule track that goes around a large grey house. After a short flat stretch flanked by a wooden railing, turn left and climb up a short stretch alongside a small stream until you reach the small metal bridge that allows you to cross it; continue for a short stretch along the stream and then turn right proceeding towards the narrow notch of the Stolen valley. The route continues on the beautiful paved mule track that, with a series of twists and turns, soon leads to a small oratory at Zam Chröizji (1145m). 

0h30' Having passed the oratory, the trail bends to the left and heads slightly downhill into the valley until it briefly skirts the stream; from here, it continues to climb with a series of twists and turns until it reaches the cottages of Ronc - Rohn (1304m). 

0h50' From the alpine pasture we proceed with a few ups and downs as far as the little bridge that takes us to the orographic left of the stream. The ascent becomes a little steeper: climb up the mule track between larch, birch and hazel, until you reach a signpost for the GSW>g located near the junction for Burinni; ignore the diversions to the left and start climbing again until you reach a concrete memorial stone (beautiful panoramic view of the main town of Issime). From here you turn sharply to the left and walk a long, slightly uphill stretch, passing above Burinni; you cross a wooden footbridge at the foot of a rocky crag and shortly afterwards come to a ruin resting on a steep slope, until you reach the mouth of a small gorge of the stream, after which you enter the beautiful basin below the Stolen alpine pastures. Once you have entered the basin, you pass a few ruins and reach the ruined alpine pastureland of Stuale (1700m): here, turn left and proceed for a short flat stretch until you reach a stream, ford it and begin to climb up the rocky slope, still on a comfortable paved mule track. The ascent is sustained and after about 30 minutes you reach the top of the rocky step and shortly afterwards the Muna - Mühmu alpine pasture (1950m). 

2h30' From the alpine pasture, continue across the pastures on the path, which is easily found thanks to the yellow marks; go up the ridge, aiming towards a large stone cross located below the Piany - Pianhy alpine pasture (2120m). 

3h00' Continue up a small dip on the left and you will soon reach the Merhuy - Meerwi alp (2230m). 

3h15' The valley now widens out and the Chasten pass coastline begins to be seen. One tends slightly to the right until finding a small valley where there is also a small spring. By now the destination is near and already visible: go up the last grassy ridge and finally reach Chlekch, where the Cravetto bivouac (2422m) is located 4h00' .
The descent is along the same route as the ascent 2h30' .