HIKING - CLIMBING

From the Migliorero Shelter one can reach different mountain tops and take different paths, among the most beautiful and interesting ones of the whole province of Cuneo. Some of these can be done in the summer as well in the winter. Obviously before undertaking any of these itineraries it is advisable to ask some advices to the Shelter’s managers. Clicking on every line you can read a brief reports of the route.

Clicking on every line you can read a brief reports of the route.

SENTIERO BALCONE
Via Normale

Updated in January 2012 (Information, text and photos by the CAI FOSSANO

USEFUL INFORMATION:Climbing route without any particular difficulty. It can be run also with snow: with suitable equipment according to the conditions.
Difficulty: EE - F
Elevation difference: from Ponte del Medico to Migliorero +914 -385 m
from Migliorero to Ponte del Medico +660 -1216 m
Climbing time: Begin of the route from the Ponte del Medico to the Seita mountain 3h+1,30 to the Shelter Migliorero. From the Shelter to the crossroad Rostagno 1,30+3h to the Colletta Bernarda+2h to the Ponte del Medico, total as from charts 11h. It should be recalled that the crossroad of the Gias Verde allows the ring of the Path Balcony avoiding the chains of the Pass Rostagno. The Gias Verde is indicated at the beginning of the path in the lowland at 2000mt over the gangway in wood (2h the climbing to the crossroad on the P28 just before the peak of the Ciaval Mountain 2641mt).
Point of departureindications 300 mt before the Ponte del Medico (1544mt)

Climbing Route: You reach by auto the village of Bagni di Vinadio, in the Valley Stura of Demonte, a bit further the Thermal baths, then you turn to the right following the indications for Besmorello. Once you reach Besmorello,(1451mt), you continue on the roadway that with ample bends reaches and crosses a bridge in stone, Ponte del Medico (1544mt), parking place. The beginning of the Path Balcony is set around 300mt before the Ponte del Medico (1544m), with indications for the path to mountain Seita and Migliorero shelter passing through mountain Seita. The path climbs on a grassy narrow path, goes beyond a steep scarp with a gangway on a trunk, crosses beech trees first and pines then to finally go out on grassy clearings . Once you go beyond an old hut you reach a little man in stone and cement (2079mt). Continuing, always along the crest, and going beyond the last larchs you reach among grassy clearings and heaps of stones the little man in stone set on the peak of the Seita mountain (2407mt). Going on and climbing on traces of path to the crest you reach quota 2485mt. There a road sign points out the right direction for the slope on the dividing crest among the vallone inf. and middle of the Alpette. Half an hour later, another sign points out the alternative itinerary to the Path Balcony (1hour from the shelter) and to the Path Low Balcony (45min. from the shelter). On the Lower one, among rhododendrons before and larchs then, the path goes down in the lawns set at the base of the rocky knoll where the beautiful and slender Migliorero Shelter stands(2094mt). From the gangway below the lake inf. of Ischiator (2064mt) the path starts towards the pass Rostagno, from the pass Rostagno (2536mt), on the right, path Experienced Excursionists, path along the crest equipped with chains which ends on the plane in front of the peak Costabella of the Piz (2760mt), maximum altitude of the Path Balcony. Following slope among latch always along the crest, up to reach the slopes of the Ciaval mountain (2641mt), sign at the crossroad to Gias Verde, the Path Balcony continues well indicated, always along the slope Ischiator up to the Colletta Bernarda where the P28 (from the Ciaval mountain) and the P25 (from pian della Reginapian in the vallone of the Piz) cross each others. Always along the slope Ischiator, you reach the crossroad with the path GTA in the place casermette of the Vacia (2247mt), on the right, at the beginning of the slope a fountain, and then among the larchs up to the houses of Luca , still on the right on excavated path you reach the Ponte del Medico (1544mt) parking place.. The Path Balcony is well signalled, by the “horizontal system” of white-red signs, and by the “vertical system” of signs pointing out indicative place and times anymore the commemorative nameplates. Due to its length, it is recommended to cross the Path Balcony in two days and in hourly direction, stopping in the Migliorero Shelter (tel. 0171-95802). The classification of the path is EE (Experienced Excursionists), its main attraction is linked to the fact that it is entirely on the crest and it has consequently a very good view on the Alpes, Liguri, Marittime and Cozie.

SENTIERO BALCONE Via Normale

SENTIERO BALCONE
Via Normale