Rosa dei Banchi rises along the watershed ridge between the Champorcher Valley and the Val Soana (Piemonte). It is the only mountain in the area that still retains a small glacial mass, the Banchi Glacier, which clings to the slopes of the northern face, although it is now a dying glacier/rock glacier. Over the years, its mass has visibly decreased and, unfortunately, it is destined to disappear. This hiking circuit allows you to explore a very wild area of the Champorcher Valley, far from the most common tourist spots. The Vallone dei Banchi remains a highly pristine area where high mountain flora and fauna are still intact. The summit of Rosa dei Banchi, at 3164 meters above sea level, offers a unique panorama of the peaks of the Aosta Valley, the Gran Paradiso range, Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and the entire Lower Aosta Valley; as well as Piemonte, particularly the Val Soana, the Po Valley, and the Monviso range. This hiking circuit will amaze you with the natural and scenic beauty of this magical and wild place.
Ascent Section: Piazzale Dondena – Vallone dei Banchi – Rosa dei Banchi (Trail n° 6B/6C, Vallone dei Banchi Trail, 7, and West Ridge of Rosa dei Banchi)
After parking your car, ascend to the Dondena Refuge (2185 meters above sea level) via the dirt road, an old royal road, which passes by several former hunting lodges. Once you reach the refuge, leave the dirt road that ascends to the right of the refuge and take the dirt road on the left (heading towards Cimetta Rossa). Continue on the dirt road for a few hundred meters until you reach the junction on the right for Trail n° 7/6B/6C (at about 2230 meters above sea level). Turn right and follow Trail n° 7 for about a hundred meters. Then, at a junction at approximately 2250 meters above sea level, take Trail n° 6B/6C to the left towards Pian di Roche. Follow Trail n° 6B/6C into the wild Vallone dei Banchi. The trail, always fairly clear, traverses the entire lower part of the valley, remaining on the left bank, following the slight incline of a small stream. As the valley narrows, it becomes more detrital. There are some cairns (not always visible), and you climb a short grassy slope that leads to the upper moraine plateau, still following the stream on the left bank. Here, the trail becomes less visible, but some cairns are still present. Continue to the right, then turn left near a large boulder in the center of the valley. When you see it, turn left and, scrambling over scree, start climbing the moraine of the former glacier, aiming for the first large (non-perennial) snowfield supported by a rock face. Cross the ice-snow area and, passing some rocks, you will reach the basin of the Banchi Glacier (receding). After crossing this semi-glacial area, you will find a trail leading to the Rosa dei Banchi Col (2958 meters above sea level) over loose terrain (the trail you encountered is the one ascending from Lake Miserin; Trail n° 7, which you will use for the descent).
From the col, continue to gain the west ridge almost immediately via a series of grassy terraces. The ridge is not particularly difficult and has sections with trail traces/cairns, until you encounter a noticeable rock step. You tackle this from the left along a ledge that leads beneath a diagonal crack to the right, which leads back to the ridge (10 meters of grade II). You then follow the ridge, which becomes easier, and do not leave it until you reach the summit of Rosa dei Banchi at 3164 meters above sea level.
Descent Section: Rosa dei Banchi – Lake Miserin – Piazzale Dondena (Trail n° West Ridge of Rosa dei Banchi and 7)
Descend to the Rosa dei Banchi Col (2958 meters above sea level) by following the same route as the ascent. From the col, find the trail descending to Lake Miserin (a trail you have partly already traversed on the way up). However, this trail is not always obvious but descends the detrital slope and then gradually descends the various moraine terraces below, following the cairns along the route (generally aiming towards the right bank of Lake Miserin). The trail continues on the moraine terraces until you find the obvious trail on the right bank of Lake Miserin. Follow this trail to find the junction where Trail n° 7 descends towards the Dondena Refuge (to the right). We recommend a short round-trip detour of about 5 minutes to visit the area of the Refuge and the Miserin Sanctuary and to take a well-deserved break. Then follow the beautiful Trail n° 7 through clearings and alpine pastures until you reach the Dondena Refuge, from where you can return to the parking area.
Technical Notes:
This is a long and demanding hike, recommended for experienced high-mountain hikers, capable of navigating scree with vague trail markings and ridges with exposed and potentially dangerous sections. If lacking these skills, it is strongly advised to be accompanied by a mountain guide.
