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This great hike rises up two captivating peaks, Pizzo Diei and Mount Cistella, generally considered to be two of the most beautiful in Ossola. Enigmas and mysterious legends surround Mount Cistella: the witches of Cistella still live in the memories of the people of Ossola. The plateau – arid, rocky and windswept – was terrifyingly called “the great ballroom of the devil…pity the unlucky person who finds himself in such a place at nightfall”.

This high altitude hike departs from Alpe Ciamporino, which is accessible by chairlift. Continue along the farm track used to service the machinery until you reach the Ciamporino Col (2,283 m / 7,490 ft). Continue to the right, upward along the steep pastures, partially following the machinery track, which leads to the crest to the east of Punta del Dosso, (where the chairlift also arrives in August). From that point, it is worth taking a pause to admire the splendid view of the valley of Moiero below. Continue down the slight slope to the left, heading towards the bottom of the valley where the stony ground begins (it isn’t worth following the line of the crest as further along it becomes unstable). Before reaching the scree, the trail becomes better marked with the red and white indications that guide you along the climb between the rock faces. You will reach a gap and then, at the turnoff for Pizzo Diei, begin the ascent up a steep slope that enters into a canal, where you will need to use your hands to climb upwards. Once out of the canal, you will be on the summit of a ridge - a vast, arid surface that quickly leads to the summit cross. Continue down the southern side, steep at first and indicated by trail markers and stone cairns that guide you along, until you reach the vast rocky plateau that divides Pizzo Diei from Monte Cistella. After a short uphill section, you will reach the bivouac dedicated to Giovanni Leoni, the greatest poet to write in the Ossolano dialect (under the pseudonym of Torototela). He was once president of the SEO CAI Section of Domodossola, and courageously worked for the bivouac’s construction, inaugurated in 1901.
From the campsite, the trail ascends sharply to the peak of Cistella, climbing up the rocks at the end.
To return, follow the trail that runs along the Cistella Plain until it changes course for Pizzo Diei, at which point it is necessary to continue along the hillside to arrive at a col. From there, begin the descent among the scree at the foot of the face of Pizzo Diei, quickly reaching the uphill trail that leads to the chairlift at Punta del Dosso and eventually Ciamporino.

Notes: This route covers stretches of stony ground and high altitude, rocky plateaus shaped by the wind. Be sure to pay extra attention and carefully follow the painted trail markers. This route is not recommended in heavy snowfall (which may hide the painted signs), fog or otherwise bad weather.

Last update: 06/03/2018 ore 14:16:19

Itinerary informations

Starting Point

A. Ciamporino

Itinerary

F16 + connections + F16

Altitude Difference Going Up

1175 m

Altitude Difference Going Down

1175 m

Track Length

13.3 km (8.3 mi) (7.0 km / 4.3 mi if departing from the chairlift at Punta del Dosso)

Elapsed Track Traversal Time

6 h 00 min (3 h 30 min if departing from the chairlift at Punta del Dosso)

Track Numbers

F16 + collegamenti + F16

Difficulty Level

E (medium)

Recommended Time Period

July-September. The chairlift that arrives at Punta del Dosso usually runs only in August

Zone

Valle Divedro

Bus stop

accessible by chairlift from San Domenico. San Domenico can be reached with the Prontobus service from the train station of Varzo

Notes

This route covers stretches of stony ground and high altitude, rocky plateaus shaped by the wind. Be sure to pay extra attention and carefully follow the painted trail markers. This route is not recommended in heavy snowfall (which may hide the painted signs), fog or otherwise bad weather.

Escursioni

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