Camp des Fourches - Ferrere Refuge

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This first stage of the Tour du Mont Aiga starts from Camp des Fourches on the Bonette road and, via the Col des Fourches, descends into the large Salso Moreno valley, which you climb back up to the Col de Pouriac. From the Col de Pouriac, you quickly reach Bassa di Colombart and then, after a long descent through the mountain pastures, the charming village of Ferrere. You may encounter flocks of sheep in Salso Moreno and, at night, the wolves that prey on them.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Three-day tour of Mont Aiga starting from Camp des Fourches

Details

n°7621460
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.25 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,381 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,615 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,219 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,204 ft
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Photos

The Museum of Rural Life in Ferrere
The little boot
Ferrere Refuge
Village of Ferrere in Italy

Description of the walk

From Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée or Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, take the D64 towards Col de la Bonette. Park above Camp des Fourches, the start and finish point of this three-day hike.

(S) Take the GR® 5, 52 and 56 trails, marked in white and red, heading east to quickly reach Col des Fourches, marker 41.

(1) Descend north-east into the Salso Moreno to the Ravin de la Tour.

(2) Cross it, then start climbing up the right bank of the Salso Moreno to the GR® crossroads, marker 37.

(3) Take the GR®52 on the right and continue climbing to reach the Combe du Graillon.

(4) Cross it and continue climbing the switchbacks through the sinkholes to the Col de Pouriac, marker 39, which also marks the border with Italy.

(5) Cross the Italian border and descend northwards. You will soon reach a crossroads marked by a boundary stone.

(6) Turn right, heading east, to reach Bassa di Colombart, where you will find the bell for those who have died in the mountains.

(7) Take the track on the right to reach a crossroads at Gias Colombart.

(8) Continue right on the track to reach the Gias Colombart hut. Take the path downhill here to reach a stream, a tributary of the Rio Ferrere.

(9) Cross this stream to reach the left bank of the Rio Ferrere. Follow it through the mountain pastures to the village of Ferrere. Finish at the Becchi Rossi Refuge, today's destination (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 7,438 ft - Car park at - Camp des Fourches
  2. 1 : mi 0.31 - alt. 7,421 ft - Col des Fourches
  3. 2 : mi 0.88 - alt. 6,814 ft - Ravin de la Tour - Salso Moreno
  4. 3 : mi 1.23 - alt. 6,880 ft - GR crossroads
  5. 4 : mi 2.05 - alt. 7,280 ft - Combe du Graillon
  6. 5 : mi 3.08 - alt. 8,219 ft - Col de Pouriac (2506m)
  7. 6 : mi 3.23 - alt. 8,127 ft - Crossroads towards Ferrere
  8. 7 : mi 3.55 - alt. 8,041 ft - Bassa di Colombart
  9. 8 : mi 4.59 - alt. 7,385 ft - Crossroads towards Gias Colombart
  10. 9 : mi 5.16 - alt. 6,939 ft - Stream
  11. E : mi 6.25 - alt. 6,207 ft - Ferrere

Notes

From Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée or Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, take the D64 towards Col de la Bonette. If you want to set off early on the first day of your hike, you can stay overnight in Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage or Bousiéyas.
Important note: for more details, you can refer to border map no. 6 of Haute Tinée and Alta Val Stura, which is more accurate on the Italian side.
Between (2) and (4) Salso Moreno or Salse Morene means brown water in Spanish (they occupied the area from 1744 to 1747).

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

(E) Visit the village of Ferrere in Italy. If you arrive early in the village, you can also visit the local museum and the church next to the Becchi Rossi refuge.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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