Couloir del Cimino, icefall in Italy's Valle della Pietra

On 17/01/2016 Cristian Candiotto and Armando Ligari climbed an icefall in Valle della Pietra (Val Gerola), Lombardy, Italy. Since there are no reports of previous ascents, the drip has been called Couloir del Cimino (I / 3 + 4, 700m). Cristian Candiotto reports.
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Ascending Couloir del Cimino (I/3+4, 700m, Cristian Candiotto, Armando Ligari) in Valle della Pietra, Val Gerola, Italy
Cristian Candiotto
Once again Val Gerola has provided us with another characteristic, fun couloir high up in its remote mountains. The drip we climbed is located at Gerola Alta, in the province of Sondrio, more precisely in the Valle della Pietra. This "valley of stone" has the habit of providing us with some really beautiful ice climbs far removed from the habitual winter climbing haunts.

Leaving the car at Trona dam Enel power station continue easily up the road through the woods and, in just over 20 minutes, you reach to the entrance to the valley. At this point the couloir, the first on the left, reveals its middle section... but not the entire route since the start and finish are hidden from view. Cross the bridge over the river Bitto and, following the gully formed by the stream, ascendo the couloir... about 30/40 minutes by car.

I had already soled this couloir immediately after my ascent of Couloir del Caimano, but since at the time it hadn’t formed completely I'd decided to descend and wait for it to come into condition. This year the valley gave us this present and so Armando Ligari and I spent some fun hours together climbing this route.

by Cristian Candiotto

TOPO: Couloir del Cimino, Valle della Pietra, Val Gerola




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