Mont Chaberton

Introduction

Mount Chaberton is entirely on French territory although it is an ultra popular destination for Italians. At the top are the remains of Europe's highest fort, demolished by the French. It is recognisable by the 8 revolving cannon turrets that can already be seen from Cesana Torinese. There are several ascent routes: here, the classic route from Clavière has been chosen, which requires a fair amount of physical effort due to the difference in height to be faced, and which, especially at weekends, is used by a large number of hikers.

Description

Parking the car, we take the dirt road that threads its way through larch and Scots pine trees on the right-hand side of the Vallone del Rio Secco (which really can't be drier than this). Having "forded" the stream, we arrive at the Ricovero Sette Fontane (2253m), the last water supply on the route. From here we set our sights on the demanding ascent to Colle dello Chaberton (2671m) from where the climb to the summit is clearly visible and where we meet the old road from the lugubrious Piano dei Morti, a road once used by military vehicles from Fenils, no longer maintained for some time and now an access route for Iron Bike enthusiasts and motorcyclists who break the transit bans of the French Gendarmerie, which occasionally peeps out with its helicopter. Heedless of the confusion, we aim for the summit and amidst barbed wire and trenches and the first crumbling outposts, we reach the flat summit above the 8 turrets. The panorama is nevertheless remarkable and sweeps 360° from the peaks of the Valle d'Aosta to those of Piedmont and France, as well as views of nearby towns such as Montgenèvre, Briançon and Sestrière with its new Olympic slopes for Turin 2006. Descending to the fort, one can visit the inside of a turret, taking great care due to the precarious condition of the internal staircase. The large rooms and corridors below contain rubble and ice and the use of a torch is recommended. The return can be done in the same way as the ascent or take the old road to Fenils at the Chaberton Pass (assuming someone has taken your car there in the fragment...).

External links

• www.fortechaberton.com