GTA: Stage 69 Rifugio Garelli - Rifugio Havis de Giorgio

Highlights and tour details

In front of the terrace of the Garelli Refuge (1966 m), a clearly visible path leads eastwards across the grassy plateau of Pian del Lupo. The path climbs back up the valley among grass and rocks, initially keeping to the orographic left, then running along stony ground and then going to the left. After having climbed a lengthy hump, the path goes to the orographic right and meanders between undulating grassy slopes. The numerous trails, also created by grazing animals, make it difficult to find the correct path but with several turns you still reach the wide and grassy pass of Porta Sestrera (or Passo di Lapassè, 2228 m). Practically on the pass, you ignore the narrow track that branches off to the left towards Lago delle Moie, and begin the descent on the Valle Ellero side. Also in this case you lose altitude among the rounded grassy humps. Leaving a first branch off to the right for Colle del Pas, you continue to descend, guided by the signposts, keeping to the right of the deep watershed of a small brook, until you take a second path to Colle del Pas coming from Rifugio Mondovì Havis De Giorgio. Follow it to the left, crossing the grassy slopes diagonally, high over the basin of Lago Biecai. After passing a small stream, with a short ascent you reach a not very visible fork near some ruins. You ignore the track on the left for Lago delle Moie and continue on ahead. You now go along the hillside around the entire basin of Lago Biecai, passing other ruins, and reaching the narrow passage known as Porta Biecai (2004 m). You descend the quite steep winding paths from the rocky rampart that closes the basin of Lago Biecai and enter the small valley of Rio Ciappa. With a long, slightly downhill crossing on the orographic right of the valley, the path cuts through a meadow area and some dense scrub of rhododendron and other shrubs. There are some marshy stretches but on a suitably cobbled ground. Going around the northern extremities of Punta Havis De Giorgio the path reverses direction and descends in a few minutes to Rifugio Mondovì Havis De Giorgio (1755 m).