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

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