Orizzonte Monviso - Stage 1: Hiking refuge La via del sale - Hiking refuge Pian Munè

From the La Via del Sale hiking refuge in Sanfront you cross the town centrally, passing the main square on the right; the road, constantly climbing on asphalt, turns left crossing the Albetta stream and with a linear trend goes up the comba of the same name (ignore branches on the left and right) up to a large hairpin bend towards the right (water point on the left) which after a few hundred leads of meters at a crossroads. Continue turning sharply to the left on a steep climb and constant slope, passing some small, almost uninhabited rural hamlets immersed in a picturesque forest of tall chestnut trees; the road, after a series of hairpin bends, flattens out and reaches the characteristic chapel of San Bernardo (1075m - equipped area and water point). The route, from a few hundred metres, has become a dirt road and continues contouring the slope on a good surface and without excessive slopes, passing mixed woods first of chestnut, ash and birch, then for a short stretch larches and firs, until it finally exits in an open field (cluster of huts on the left). The dirt road now significantly increases in slope: a series of long hairpin bends go up the increasingly panoramic side, alternating smoother stretches with more challenging ones due to the uneven surface; the route extends for a stretch on a slight slope to gain altitude again at the end of the climb which ends its challenging part near a sharp turn to the left which leads to a panoramic hill with a drinking trough for the herds. You now travel along a long, mostly flat stretch, first in an open clearing, then inside a suggestive forest with some ups and downs until you reach the large, grassy clearing of Colle di Gilba (1524m), a point of communication and intersection with the nearby Valle Varaita (equipped area and water point). The descent begins a few tens of meters back from the hill, just at the beginning of the clearing, and bends again towards the Po valley (directions) along an initially grassy path which soon becomes technical both due to the surface (at times tortuous with passages on stones and roots) and for the slope (a steeper first stretch which then flattens out slightly before descending again afterwards), all for about 700m up to a crossroads (signs), where the challenging part of the descent ends. Now go left along a nice stretch on a slight slope inside the dense pine forest which in some places offers a very special environment and leads to the opposite side of the valley. The first part is well cycled, followed by the crossing of the first stream and then a second with a greater water flow (narrower and more uneven surface in correspondence with both upstream and downstream). The path, which bears clear evidence of long standing, continues on a slight slope until the third and final crossing of a more important stream (due to very evident landslides and mudslides, it goes up a little and then descends), beyond which it joins the track forestry that comes from the valley. With a pleasant surface and greater width you reach, after about 500m, the Bertorello Forest Refuge (1375m) immersed in a vast pine forest. You join the uphill branch which, beyond the refuge, heads towards some huts higher up and up to the Pian Muné area where, next to the departure point of the chair lift of the local ski resort, stands the hiking refuge.

Considering that the excursion takes place on a predominantly mountainous and high altitude route, the use of suitable clothing such as trekking boots - trousers and windbreaker in technical fabric is recommended.

Nothing to report in this regard

A6 TURIN - SAVONA motorway, exit: Marene toll booth; turn left and merge onto the SS 662 towards Savigliano, continue until Saluzzo, then follow the directions from Saluzzo to the Po Valley along the SP 26 or SP 260; A21 TURIN – ALESSANDRIA – PIACENZA motorway, Asti est exit – then continue towards Alba- Bra- Marene- Savigliano- Saluzzo- Valle Po exit (SS 662); from TURIN, ring road, Pinerolo exit, continue on the SP 161 then SP .27 for Barge, Paesana.

From Turin and Cuneo: Atibus, timetables on the website www.buscompany.it/ati, Turin-Saluzzo, Cuneo-Saluzzo, Saluzzo-Paesana lines. From Turin and Pinerolo: Cavourese bus lines, timetables on the website www.cavourese.it, Turin – Pinerolo and Pinerolo - Barge lines. From Barge and Paesana: Dossetto Bus, timetables on the website www.dossettobus.it, Barge - Paesana - Crissolo line.

From the La Via del Sale hiking refuge in Sanfront you cross the town centrally, passing the main square on the right; the road, constantly climbing on asphalt, turns left crossing the Albetta stream and with a linear trend goes up the comba of the same name (ignore branches on the left and right) up to a large hairpin bend towards the right (water point on the left) which after a few hundred leads of meters at a crossroads. Continue turning sharply to the left on a steep climb and constant slope, passing some small, almost uninhabited rural hamlets immersed in a picturesque forest of tall chestnut trees; the road, after a series of bends, flattens out and reaches the characteristic chapel of San Bernardo (1075m - equipped area and water point). The route, from a few hundred metres, has become a dirt road and continues contouring the slope on a good surface and without excessive slopes, passing mixed woods first of chestnut, ash and birch, then for a short stretch larches and firs, until it finally exits in an open field (cluster of huts on the left). The dirt road now significantly increases in slope: a series of long hairpin bends go up the increasingly panoramic side, alternating smoother stretches with more challenging ones due to the uneven surface; the route extends for a stretch on a slight slope to gain altitude again at the end of the climb which ends its challenging part near a sharp turn to the left which leads to a panoramic hill with a drinking trough for the herds. You now travel along a long, mostly flat stretch, first in an open clearing, then inside a suggestive forest with some ups and downs until you reach the large, grassy clearing of Colle di Gilba (1524m), a point of communication and intersection with the nearby Valle Varaita (equipped area and water point). The descent begins a few tens of meters back from the hill, just at the beginning of the clearing, and bends again towards the Po valley (directions) along an initially grassy path which soon becomes technical both due to the surface (at times tortuous with passages on stones and roots) and for the slope (a steeper first stretch which then flattens out slightly before descending again afterwards), all for about 700m up to a crossroads (signs), where the challenging part of the descent ends. Now go left along a nice stretch on a slight slope inside the dense pine forest which in some places offers a very special environment and leads to the opposite side of the valley. The first part is well cycled, followed by the crossing of the first stream and then a second with a greater water flow (narrower and more uneven surface in correspondence with both upstream and downstream). The path, which bears clear evidence of long standing, continues on a slight slope until the third and final crossing of a more important stream (due to very evident landslides and mudslides, it goes up a little and then descends), beyond which it joins the track forestry that comes from the valley. With a pleasant surface and greater width you reach, after about 500m, the Bertorello Forest Refuge (1375m) immersed in a vast pine forest. You join the uphill branch which, beyond the refuge, heads towards some huts higher up and up to the Pian Muné area where, next to the departure point of the chair lift of the local ski resort, stands the hiking refuge.