GTA: Stage 51 Barbara Lowrie Refuge - Quintino Sella Refuge

Highlights and tour details

Go past the Barbara Lowrie Refuge (1753 m) to the right without crossing the stream, following the sign and the poles of route 111 almost to the bottom of the grassy plateau; on the left, you will find the connection to climb to Col Proussera/Colle della Gianna. The trail is well marked and climbs quickly inside the larch wood, to Colle Proussera (2182 m) on the watershed between Vallone dei Carbonieri and Vallone della Gianna. Shortly after, you meet the junction marked with route 113 which comes from Grange della Gianna and continues to climb a last stretch on debris to Colle della Gianna (2525), saddle between Punte Roccia Fons and Sea Bianca. Descend on the Valle Po side on a first steep section with hairpin bends.To the left, leave the junction with the trail V28 that descends toward Pian Melzè along the left bank of the Combal del Rio and move in the vicinity of the source of Pian Grande del Fons. The trail continues along low sloping grassy slopes on the right hydrographic side of the Combal del Rio to the depression called Sellaccia (2369 m) between Truc Teston and Truc Battaglié. Descend now, turning more sharply a little to the northwest. To the right, leave the junction of the trail towards Pian Armoine (2156 m). On a last series of hairpin bends reach the junction with trail V16 that climbs to the right towards Pian Mait and Colle delle Traversette. We are now in sight of Pian del Re (2020 m). Having reached it, we go right on the mule track V13 for the Quintino Sella Refuge. On several hairpin bends we reach the deep Lake Fiorenza (2113 m) after having crossed its outflow. The trail goes along the right hydrographic bank of the lake and then starts to climb again on a few hairpin bends to the small hill that overlooks the Vallone of Rio dei Quarti.To the right, the mule track goes past a rocky jump and emerges on the upper plateau. To the right, the fork of trail V14 detaches itself towards the Giacoletti Refuge and to the left a small fork detaches itself towards Lake Chiaretto below. The mule track traces a vast semicircle southwards passing under the vertical of the Coolidge canal at the base of Rocca Trunè. After a few hairpin bends the mule track develops on the right hydrographic side of the stoney valley between Viso Mozzo and the eastern slope of Monte Viso and finally reaches the watershed in correspondence with Colle del Viso (2654 m). Going southeast and passing to the north of Lake Grande di Viso, on a slight descent, you finally reach the Quintino Sella Refuge (2640 m).