Testa Grigia

Testa Grigia

The “Testa Grigia”, or “Tête Grise” (Gray Head) is the imposing mountain overlooking Champoluc rightwards, behind and over Crest, of course. It’s easy to recognise it because of it’s total lack of vegetation and for its fin shaped summit; it’s so called because,if you look, it’s seems a stylized human face. It’s the highest peak between Champoluc and Gressoney. It was climbed for the first time the 7^th August 1878 by alpinists Delapierre, Laurent, Rignon and by Pinney consorts. Even durin summer 2004, Varasc.it came back on Testa Grigia in order to update you about this important peak.

How do we get on it?

Path 11A is one of two possibilities: starting from Crest it takes in factsto Cuneaz and, walking along that pictoresque valley, reach Pinter Lakes. From there, you can easily arrive at 2776 meters of Pinter Pass and then walk towards left, to Testa Grigia. It’s a run which takes 4 hours, maybe a little less for fir trekkers. If you want to make the story shorter, you can use the cableway instead of foot: take the one to Ostafa Pasture, from there it starts the easy path for Pinters, and omonymous Pass. But here follows the chronicle of my run, happened the 28^th of August, with good weather conditions. I left Champoluc at 7.20 AM, and then I reached Frantzè by 7.45, then arriving at Crest Moreletè at 8 o’clock. The cableway opens at 8.30 and an adult retun ticket costs 7 euros. The trip lasts ten minutes and, generally, is quite windy.

Once arrived at Ostafa at 8.55 AM after a pleasant climb, I immediately found path 12 which took me to Pinter by 9.30 AM without any kind of problems. At ten o’clock I reached Pinter Pass, pictoresque as usual: pleas note that, if I would, I could reach Gressoney St.Jean in three hours and a half. According to the map, instead, the way to Testa Grigia’s peak will take only one hour and a half. From the path you go left, as I said before, the path was 11A, always well marked. The first part is quite easy and it allows me to admire the three Pinter Lakes, with the Perrin forward. It become steep soon, however, especially when it goes right: we’re almost under the ridge located southwards of the top. The Bivouac Ulrich Lateltin is exactely there, still invisible.

Once you’ve crossed some low light grey rocks, you’re almost arrived in a wide plan which form the ridge located south of the peak. You just have to pass one of the worse point of the whole run: a short rocky funnel, covered by part of rocks; after that, you’re on the ridge. This funnel isn’t particularly difficult: the path is well marked, and you are repared from the wind which, instead, will blow again when you have reached the ridge. After this obstacle, we are at the beginning of a wide, red coloured, plan. It’s just a little tilted at left, and its absolutely sure because its rocks aren’t unstable. You can relax a while, maybe slacken your control on the kids; moreover, the panorama is amazing, although the glacier is still invisible. At our shoulders, there’s a flat path, really well marked, which takes to Bivouac Ulrich Lateltin, a big grey structure which offers 20 bed places, to be minded in case of bad weather. Following the ridge we go a little on the left, with a lovely sight on Gressoney and Lyskamms. The ridge ends in front of the last “rampart” which guards the peak: here there’s the first of two helping chains, useless actually.

Up there rackets and others helpers are useless, because you use the hands very often, and so you need them free. The excursionists use to leave the rackets below the top, to take back them on the way back. Now we are exactely 10 meters under the top: paradoxically, this is the most difficult point. The path ends, in facts, leaving us in front of a what seems to be a vertical wall, quite hard and really exposed. In this case, it’s natural to ask ourselves How hell will I get down?

This wall offers many holds, stable rocks jutting out. It’s necessary to proceed carefully, staying close to the wall, which is never really vertical. A few steps on the right, then one or two further, and one left: you cross over the last rocks and then you’re arrived on the top: the ground is trustful and the panorama indescribable. I was arrived on the top at 11.20 AM. The peak offers some comfortable rocks to be used as seats, a pedestal for a little Mary’s statue and a old trivet with a bell, which can be used by every excursionist to celebrate his conquer. It’s a little place and, when it’s too crowded, many prefers to do just a look and relax on the lower ridge.

Just one warning: it isn’t a protected place at all. The panorama, as I said before, is uncredible: it’s like sitting on a balcony on Rosa’s massif and not only: you can admire also the Bianco and, southwards, Zerbion, Emilius and Grivola. If you want you can admire it immediately clicking on “360°” section on www.vdaoutdoor.it, which is only in Italian. The descent is to be done carefully, especially immediately below the top: you don’t have to be afraid of hurtling down, and help the upcomers trekkers.also the rocky funnel under Lateltin requires carefulness to avoid to hit the others with part of rocks you may move. However, I reached Pinter Pass by 13 o’clock, at 14.25 at Ostafa, and at 14.53 at Crest.

Briefly, Testa Grigia, with its 3313 meters offer uncomparable emotions: adventure, big satisfactions, great self – control and efforts. It isn’t neither an impossible mountain, nor too difficult. It’s simply a mountain which “asks” for respect, doesn’t tolerate haste or haughtiness, and can punish hard disactentions and improvisations. If you’re well trained and conscious of the challenges you’re going to face, the Testa Grigia will be easier than you thought. I repeat, it isn’t an impossible mountain: I’ve been there for the first time when I was 9, my brother wasn’t even 8, and every year I meet there children in their leisure. Honestly, it’s one of the best mountain of Ayas, and it can’t miss in your experiences.