Trek around Monte Viso in 5 days, stage 3

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, well described. We made a stopover at the Giacoletti refuge between the Mont Viso refuge and the Quintino Sella
Please note: in Italy, there are two refuges named Chi Tino Sella. The other one is in Aosta. Be careful to choose the right one. We saw several people who had booked the wrong one

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Hello everyone

We did this stage around 15 August, as part of a tour of Mont Viso. We went through the traversette tunnel (no problems, no snow, fine weather in the morning). We didn't take the postman's route because, with our big bags, we were afraid of the difficulty. We took the V17 between Lake Superior and Lake Fiorenza to avoid going all the way back down to Pian del Re. This path was quite steep, hollowed out by the rain and the passage through the waterfall was not easy, not to say dangerous (there is a rope, but it's very flimsy). We made it through, but we had to be cold-blooded.
Then it rained from the Lausetto lake to the refuge. The climb up to the pass (scree) was made difficult by the rain and cold. We could hear the rocks falling from the Viso all the way to the pass.
The plus points: magnificent views, like all the stages of this tour. We were lucky enough to see the Lanza salamander just after Lake Lausetto. We were very well received at Quintino sella, but it's true that the cuisine isn't incredible. On the other hand, the staff at the refuge are very friendly and professional, and the atmosphere is very welcoming.

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Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good trace

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because it wasn't mentioned in the description that the postman's path was equipped with a large ladder and ropes, and that it was vertiginous; that's what I meant; this information was given to me by the warden of the Viso refuge; but no worries.

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.... Further to the previous message, why note the very disappointing description when it has not been borrowed.

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yoguini

why "Reliability of description: Very disappointing"?

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I didn't go via the chemin du postier because of vertigo. So I went via the Pian del Ré refuge and climbed back up via the lakes, which wasn't too difficult. You can also cut across Lac Supérior without going via the Pian del Ré refuge, which isn't too difficult.
no more névés at all on 20/7/2022
otherwise impossible to go wrong the italians have put brand new signs everywhere!

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Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We also cut this stage in two by stopping at the GIACOLETI refuge. When you love it, you don't count ;-). We were well advised, as the refuge is magnificently placed, the welcome is "family" and there are plenty of climbers: a "mountain" atmosphere. The postman's path - below and to the right of the Traversette tunnel - is, in places, airy, but it is well laid out and safe. The Sella Quintino refuge is easily accessible from the valley. Lunchtime is a bit of a factory! The food is just as disappointing.
N.B: The tunnel has been refurbished. There's no need to bend over, but a headlamp is useful.

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Date of your route : Aug 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I'd just like to point out that the tunnel has now been widened and raised and that you can go through it without bending down; but also that when you're tired you have to be careful not to miss the postman's path... which we did and then the climb back up to the pass is really steep!

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very fine, sporty route... Avoid doing it on a Sunday as the paths are invaded by picnickers (or those eating grilled sausages at the Giacoletti hut), who drive up to the Pian del Re, invasive and sometimes very discourteous...

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Date of your route : Aug 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The most difficult stage of this tour in my opinion.

As announced, the passage through the tunnel (Bucco di Viso) allows you to avoid the climb to the Col de la Traversette at this time of year (August).
On the way down, when you have the choice between the "Sentier du Postier / Plan del Re", make sure you are aware that the Sentier du Postier includes passages with ladders and cables, and that the climb to the Giacoletti refuge is very steep! On the other hand, the food is very good - we'd left without a picnic. A beautiful trail.
The descent from the Giacoletti refuge towards the lakes is very beautiful, and then begins the long, long, long climb towards the Quintino Sella refuge..... the clouds had covered the Viso and were descending very low... you couldn't see the top! I found the climb up the scree endless! Luckily, a herd of ibex entertained us on the way!
The Quintino Sella refuge is very beautiful and very large. Great welcome, good food. It's the starting point for the ascent of Viso.

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Thank you for your comment, which confirms that the former barracks, now the Quintino Sella Refuge, is not at all top-notch. Especially if you've slept in the 3-storey dormitory. If so, are the beds still made of metal?
On the other hand, this location on the edge of the lake and at the foot of Viso is remarkable.

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Date of your route : Jun 20, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Passage of the Col Traversette with 150 m of good névé, tunnel blocked by snow, descent on the ridge on the edge of névé to the old fort, very beautiful, we avoided the passage to the refuge Giacometti, too hard with the snow, descent to the source of Po and back up to the right by path passing under a waterfall ...free shower....after a very long walk to the Sella refuge, 1km of good Neve up to the Viso pass..Sella refuge, shower broken, inside toilet closed, canteen food downmarket...to be avoided, but it's the day of the reopening.in short, a beautiful day, hard but lots of flowers and magnificent scenery.

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Date of your route : Sep 09, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

In fact, I didn't do this exact hike.
We didn't go via the Giacoletti refuge, but continued down and turned 100m above Plan del Re.
The tunnel was closed for repairs :-(

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Date of your route : Jul 17, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The névé on the French side poses no difficulty. It is quite short. The tunnel is not visible at the moment. Numerous névés on the descent to Giacoletti. You need to be very good at walking on steep névés. Major risk if you slip.

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