A guidebook to the 809km Grande Traversata Delle Alpi trek through the western Italian Alps traversing the Lepontine, Pennine, Graian, Cottian and Maritime Alps to finish at Ventimiglia. The guide splits the route into 3 sections with 55 day stages. A good level of fitness is required to tackle the route as it contains nearly 60,000m of ascent.

A guidebook to Italy's Grande Traversata Delle Alpi (GTA) trek through the western Italian Alps. The 809km (503 mile) route is presented in 55 stages with each stage ranging from 7-26km (4-16 miles). Beginning at the Nufenen pass at the Swiss border the route traverses the Lepontine, Pennine, Graian, Cottian and Maritime Alps to finish at Ventimiglia on the Mediterranean coast. With nearly 60,000m of ascent this route is suitable for fit and experienced alpine trekkers. This guidebook contains route description and 1:00,000 mapping for each stage as well as information on the region's history, culture and wildlife. Accommodation, facilities and public transport information is also given to help with trek planning. Italy's western Alps is an area of high mountain passes, sparkling lakes, clean air, and alpine meadows rich in wildflowers. With a network of paths that enabled travel long before the motor car, the region is ideally suited to exploring on foot. From Switzerland to the Mediterranean, the GTA enables the visitor to travel the old ways through the mountains, hearing the stories, sampling the regional specialties in food and wine, and experiencing the famously warm welcome of the Italian people.

CONTENTS

Map key
Overview map
Mountain safety
Route summary table
Introduction
The GTA route
The sections and stages
Weather and when to go
Getting there and back
Local transport
Hiking the GTA
Waymarking and maps
Accommodation
Food and drink
What to take
Preparation and safety
Language
Italy’s Western Alps
History
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
How to use this guide

Section 1: GTA North – Nufenen Pass to Quincinetto
Stage 1 Nufenen Pass to Rifugio Margaroli
Stage 2 Rifugio Margaroli to Alpe Devero
Stage 3 Alpe Devero to Alpe Veglia
Stage 4 Alpe Veglia to Varzo
Stage 5 Varzo to Rifugio San Bernardo
Stage 6 Rifugio San Bernardo to Alpe Cheggio
Stage 7 Alpe Cheggio to Molini
Stage 8 Molini to Campello Monti
Stage 9 Campello Monti to Rifugio Alpe Baranca
Stage 10 Rifugio Alpe Baranca to Carcoforo
Stage 11 Carcoforo to Rima
Stage 12 Rima to Rifugio Valle Vogna
Stage 13 Rifugio Valle Vogna to Rifugio Rivetti
Stage 14 Rifugio Rivetti to S. San Giovanni
Stage 15 S. San Giovanni to S. di Oropa
Stage 16 S. di Oropa to Trovinasse
Stage 17 Trovinasse to Quincinetto

Section 2: GTA Central – Quincinetto to Castello
Stage 18 Quincinetto to Fondo
Stage 19 Fondo to Piamprato
Stage 20 Piamprato to Ronco Canavese
Stage 21 Ronco Canavese to Talosio
Stage 22 Talosio to San Lorenzo
Stage 23 San Lorenzo to Ceresole Reale
Stage 24 Ceresole Reale to Pialpetta
Stage 25 Pialpetta to Balme
Stage 26 Balme to Usseglio
Stage 27 Usseglio to Il Trucco
Stage 28 Il Trucco to Susa
Stage 29 Susa to Alpe Toglie
Stage 30 Alpe Toglie to Usseaux
Stage 31 Usseaux to Balsiglia
Stage 32 Balsiglia to Ghigo di Prali
Stage 33 Ghigo di Prali to Villanova
Stage 34 Villanova to Rifugio Barbara Lowrie
Stage 35 Rifugio Barbara Lowrie to Rifugio Quintino Sella
Stage 36 Rifugio Quintino Sella to Castello

Section 3: GTA South – Castello to Ventigmilia
Stage 37 Castello to Rifugio Meleze
Stage 38 Rifugio Meleze to Chiappera
Stage 39 Chiappera to Rifugio della Gardetta
Stage 40 Rifugio della Gardetta to Sambuco
Stage 41 Sambuco to Strepeis
Stage 42 Strepeis to Rifugio Malinvern
Stage 43 Rifugio Malinvern to Terme di Valdieri
Stage 44 Terme di Valdieri to Rifugio Genova-Figari
Stage 45 Rifugio Genova-Figari to San Giacomo
Stage 46 San Giacomo to Trinita
Stage 47 Trinita to Palanfrè
Stage 48 Palanfrè to Limonetto
Stage 49 Limonetto to Rifugio Garelli
Stage 50 Rifugio Garelli to Upega
Stage 51 Upega to Monesi di Triora
Stage 52 Monesi di Triora to Colle Melosa
Stage 53 Colle Melosa to Rifugio Gola di Gouta
Stage 54 Rifugio Gola di Gouta to Rifugio Alta Via
Stage 55 Rifugio Alta Via to Ventimiglia


Appendix A Italian–English glossary
Appendix B Useful information