Cima di Fojorina e Denti della Vecchia

Information

Date:	18 May 2010
Maximum height:	1809 m
Difference in height:	1320 m
Length:	18 km
Kilometers effort:	35.6 kmef
Duration:	7 hours and 30 minutes

Huts reached:

Capanna Pairolo

For the following peaks, there are other variants of the ascent:	Cima di Fojorina
	Denti della Vecchia

Difficulties (Automatic translation in english)

	From Petrolzo to the Capanna Pairolo and then to the Cima di Fojorina.
	From Cima di Fojorina to Passo Streccione.
	From Passo Streccione to the channel halfway up Sasso Grande and back.
	From Passo Streccione down the gully to the altitude of 1260 metres (with T4 passages).
	From the altitude of 1260 metres to Petrolzo.

Comment (Automatic translation in english)

For this hike, I set off from Petrolzo, where there are few parking spaces, and began walking first towards Usin and then continued climbing towards Mataron. About 40 metres below this peak, there is a path leading directly to the Capanna Pairolo, which I followed all the way there. I then climbed Mataron, where there is a large cross and a splendid view to the east, and subsequently took the path leading to Alpe Pianca Bella (near the point marked at 1,599 metres). Once past this, after about 500 metres I reached a point where numerous paths converge and where there is a signpost. I then climbed 5–6 metres southwards until I joined the barely visible path leading to the Passo di Fojorina. From the pass, I followed the ridge towards the summit, but before reaching it, I made a detour towards the Torrione, which I photographed from a distance. Back on the ridge, I soon reached the Cima di Fojorina.
After a short break, I descend the western slope of the mountain until I reach the Pianca Bella Pass, where I continue along the path that runs alongside the ridge to the Cima dell’Oress. I then descend again to the Capanna Pairolo and from there set off towards the Passo Streccione and the Denti della Vecchia. Once at the pass, I tried to climb Sasso Grande but gave up halfway due to the strong wind. The path, however, starts from the pass and climbs straight up towards the summit. At a certain point, you reach a gully, just wide enough for one person, through which the ascent continues and where I stopped [Update: there is actually a slightly less difficult route that climbs up to the left (see the "Denti della Vecchia and Sasso Grande" hike)].
Back at Passo Streccione, I take the path heading northwards, along a gully full of rocks. After a short while, however, the route splits into two or three paths, making it difficult to tell which is the best one. There are a few slightly trickier sections (T4) before finally reaching the woods, where the path becomes a single track again and is no longer difficult [Update: the path has been improved and there are now no more T4 sections, only T3]. From here, you reach Cioascio and then finally return to Petrolzo.

Water (Automatic translation in english)

There are a few fountains now and then up to the Capanna Pairolo, then nothing. On the return journey, I found a river before Cioascio and then another one before Petrolzo.