Escursione al Lago Camoscere e Bivacco Bonfante - Valle Maira
L'escursione al Lago Camoscere e Bivacco Bonfante, in Valle Maira rappresenta un'ottima occasione per ammirare da vicino il Pelvo d'Elva ed il Monte Chersogno e per godere di panorami spettacolari sulla valle di Elva, sulla Valle Variata fino al Monviso.
Se compiuto nella stagione autunnale diventa anche una bella gita per riempirsi gli occhi di tonalità calde tipiche della stagione.
Per raggiungere il Lago Camoscere si può scegliere tra due diversi itinerari: uno con partenza da Chiosso Superiore che risale il Vallone del Gias Vecchio con un dislivello di 1000 metri, l'altro, qui proposto, con partenza dal Colle di Sampeyre o dal Colle della Bicocca, a seconda che abbiate un auto adatta ad affrontare i 6 km di strada sterrata non proprio in buono stato.
Dopo aver percorso i 6 km di strada bianca pressocchè pianeggiante e con vista sui pascoli del Vallone di Elva, si arriva al Colle della Bicocca.
Qui, a 2285 metri, una pausa è d'obbligo per ammirare il panorama sulla Valle Varaita, sul Monviso che compare sul fondo e sul Pelvo d'Elva a cui ci avvicineremo nel nostro cammino. Il percorso riprende imboccando il sentiero T6 che sale dolcemente tra pendii erbori tenendo alla destra le pareti del Pelvo d'Elva e sulla sinistra la panoramica Valle Maira.
Dopo circa mezz'ora si raggiunge la Fonte Matté e si supera la Costa Pellonetti attraversando un paio di piccoli rii. Il percorso è sempre estremamente panoramico e non presenta alcune difficoltà. A questo punto il sentiero contorna l'ampio vallone della Conca del Lupo, raggiunge la Fonte del Lupo ed inizia a salire ripida per superare la Costa Bella dove si incontrano alcuni tratti franosi e scivolosi con tempo umido.
Virando in direzione ovest e tralasciando alcune tracce che scendono nel Vallone del Gias Vecchio ci appare alla vista la bellissima piramide del Monte Chersogno. Superate le pendici meridionali del Monte Camoscere e risaliti alcuni salti rocciosi il tracciato arriva ad un bivio che segnala, a destra la nostra prima meta, a sinistra La Fonte Nera. Scelto il sentiero a destra, finalmente dopo circa 1,30 ore, si arriva al piano del Vallonetto dove si vedono subito i ruderi della vecchia caserma costruita a ridosso del solitarioLago Camoscere.
Si tratta di un piccolo specchio d’acqua alpino piuttosto suggestivo situato a 2644 metri. L’ambiente in cui si trova è austero, circondato da alte montagne, come la piramide rocciosa del Chersogno, la Rocca Gialeo, il Monte Camoscere che si specchia nelle sue acque ed, in lontananza, il Pelvo d’Elva. I ruderi della vecchia caserma contribuiscono a conferire un tocco pittoresco alla scena.
Dopo una lunga sosta si può ripartire alla volta del Bivacco Bonfante che si trova poco più in basso verso la base del Monte Chersogno. Si ritorna, quindi, sui propri passi fino al bivio e si segue l'indicazione per la Fonte Nera.
In pochi minuti si raggiunge il bel Bivacco Bonfante, una bella struttura che permette un comodo pernottamento a quota 2600 metri situata al limitare di una balza rocciosa ai piedi del Monte Chersogno.
Il moderno edificio in legno con tetto in lamiera è stato inaugurato nel 2006 ed è dedicato alla memoria di Elio Bonfante, alpinista morto sul Dente del Gigante. Di proprietà dei Cai di Bra, il bivacco ha 12 posti letto ed è illuminato elettricamente grazie ad un impianto fotovoltaico. Il Bivacco Bonfante rappresenta un'ottima base per la salita al vicino Monte Chersogno o per approcciarsi alla Palestra d'Arrampicata che si trova a 10 minuti di distanza.
Volendo è ancora possibile scendere alla Fonte Nera, distante 10 minuti, unica riserva di acqua da bere in quanto il rubinetto dal Bivacco non eroga acqua potabile. La via del ritorno è la stessa percorsa all'andata.
Trekking to Camoscere Lake and Bivouac Bonfante in Maira Valley
The hike to Camoscere Lake and Bivouac Bonfante , in Maira Valley is an excellent opportunity to admire up close the Pelvo d'Elva and Chersogno Mount and to enjoy spectacular views over the Elva Valley, the Variata Valley and the Monviso.
If done in the autumn season it also becomes a nice trip to fill your eyes with warm colors typical of the season. To reach the Camoscere Lake you can choose between two different itineraries: one starting from Chiosso Superiore which goes up the Vallone Gias Vecchio with a difference in height of 1000 meters, the other, proposed here, starting from Sampeyre Pass or Bicocca Pass, depending on whether you have a suitable car to tackle the 6 km of dirt road not really in good condition.
The Sampeyre Pass is located at 2284 meters above sea level and connects the Maira Valley to the Varaita Valley. This alpine pass that can be traveled by car is part of the historic "Strada dei Cannoni", a scenic route built in 1893 by the Military Engineers on the ridge between the two valleys.
After covering the 6 km of almost flat dirt road that overlooks the pastures of the Elva Valley, you arrive at Bicocca Pass.
Here, at 2285 meters, a break is a must to admire the view over the Varaita Valley, the Monviso that appears on the bottom and the Pelvo d'Elva which we will approach on our way.
The route resumes taking the path T6 which climbs gently between grassy slopes keeping the walls of Pelvo d'Elva to the right and the panoramic Maira Valley on the left. After about half an hour you reach Fonte Matté and cross the Costa Pellonetti crossing a couple of small canals. The route is always extremely scenic and does not present any difficulties. At this point the path surrounds the wide valley of the Conca del Lupo, reaches the Fonte del Lupo and begins to climb steeply to overcome the Costa Bella where there are some landslide and slippery stretches in wet weather. Turning westwards and ignoring some traces that descend into the Vallone del Gias Vecchio, appears to us the beautiful pyramid of Chersogno Moount. After passing the southern slopes of Camoscere Mount and climbing up some rocky jumps, the track arrives at a crossroads that indicates our first destination on the right and La Fonte Nera on the left. Choosing the path on the right, finally after about 1.30 hours, you arrive at the Vallonetto plain where you can immediately see the ruins of the old barracks built close to the solitary Camoscere Lake.
It is a rather suggestive small Alpine stretch of water located at 2644 meters. The environment in which it is located is austere, surrounded by high mountains, such as the rocky pyramid of Chersogno, Rocca Gialeo, Camoscere Mount which is reflected in its waters and, in the distance, the Pelvo d’Elva. The ruins of the old barracks help to give a picturesque touch to the scene. After a long stop you can leave for the Bonfante Bivouac which is a little further down towards the base of Chersogno Mount. You then retrace your steps to the crossroads and follow the signs for the Fontana Nera.
In a few minutes you can reach the beautiful Bonfante Bivouac, a beautiful structure that allows a comfortable overnight stay at an altitude of 2600 meters located on the edge of a rocky crag at the foot of Chersogno Mount.
The modern wooden building with a tin roof was inaugurated in 2006 and is dedicated to the memory of Elio Bonfante, a mountaineer who died on the Dente del Gigante. Owned by the Bra CAI, the bivouac has 12 beds and is electrically lit thanks to a photovoltaic system. The Bonfante Bivouac is an excellent base for climbing to nearby Chersogno Mount or for approach the Climbing Gym which is 10 minutes away.
If desired, it is still possible to go down to the Fonte Nera, 10 minutes away, the only reserve of water to drink as the tap from the Bivouac does not deliver drinking water. The way back is the same as on the outward journey.
The hike to Camoscere Lake and Bivouac Bonfante , in Maira Valley is an excellent opportunity to admire up close the Pelvo d'Elva and Chersogno Mount and to enjoy spectacular views over the Elva Valley, the Variata Valley and the Monviso.
If done in the autumn season it also becomes a nice trip to fill your eyes with warm colors typical of the season. To reach the Camoscere Lake you can choose between two different itineraries: one starting from Chiosso Superiore which goes up the Vallone Gias Vecchio with a difference in height of 1000 meters, the other, proposed here, starting from Sampeyre Pass or Bicocca Pass, depending on whether you have a suitable car to tackle the 6 km of dirt road not really in good condition.
The Sampeyre Pass is located at 2284 meters above sea level and connects the Maira Valley to the Varaita Valley. This alpine pass that can be traveled by car is part of the historic "Strada dei Cannoni", a scenic route built in 1893 by the Military Engineers on the ridge between the two valleys.
After covering the 6 km of almost flat dirt road that overlooks the pastures of the Elva Valley, you arrive at Bicocca Pass.
Here, at 2285 meters, a break is a must to admire the view over the Varaita Valley, the Monviso that appears on the bottom and the Pelvo d'Elva which we will approach on our way.
The route resumes taking the path T6 which climbs gently between grassy slopes keeping the walls of Pelvo d'Elva to the right and the panoramic Maira Valley on the left. After about half an hour you reach Fonte Matté and cross the Costa Pellonetti crossing a couple of small canals. The route is always extremely scenic and does not present any difficulties. At this point the path surrounds the wide valley of the Conca del Lupo, reaches the Fonte del Lupo and begins to climb steeply to overcome the Costa Bella where there are some landslide and slippery stretches in wet weather. Turning westwards and ignoring some traces that descend into the Vallone del Gias Vecchio, appears to us the beautiful pyramid of Chersogno Moount. After passing the southern slopes of Camoscere Mount and climbing up some rocky jumps, the track arrives at a crossroads that indicates our first destination on the right and La Fonte Nera on the left. Choosing the path on the right, finally after about 1.30 hours, you arrive at the Vallonetto plain where you can immediately see the ruins of the old barracks built close to the solitary Camoscere Lake.
It is a rather suggestive small Alpine stretch of water located at 2644 meters. The environment in which it is located is austere, surrounded by high mountains, such as the rocky pyramid of Chersogno, Rocca Gialeo, Camoscere Mount which is reflected in its waters and, in the distance, the Pelvo d’Elva. The ruins of the old barracks help to give a picturesque touch to the scene. After a long stop you can leave for the Bonfante Bivouac which is a little further down towards the base of Chersogno Mount. You then retrace your steps to the crossroads and follow the signs for the Fontana Nera.
In a few minutes you can reach the beautiful Bonfante Bivouac, a beautiful structure that allows a comfortable overnight stay at an altitude of 2600 meters located on the edge of a rocky crag at the foot of Chersogno Mount.
The modern wooden building with a tin roof was inaugurated in 2006 and is dedicated to the memory of Elio Bonfante, a mountaineer who died on the Dente del Gigante. Owned by the Bra CAI, the bivouac has 12 beds and is electrically lit thanks to a photovoltaic system. The Bonfante Bivouac is an excellent base for climbing to nearby Chersogno Mount or for approach the Climbing Gym which is 10 minutes away.
If desired, it is still possible to go down to the Fonte Nera, 10 minutes away, the only reserve of water to drink as the tap from the Bivouac does not deliver drinking water. The way back is the same as on the outward journey.
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