SI E32

During this moderately long stage, with a positive elevation gain of about 1340 m, you travel from the Valle di Viù to the Val di Ala, in the Valli di Lanzo. Starting from Usseglio, you take trail no. 128 of the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA), which winds along the northern side of the valley, characterized by woods and steep alpine pastures. At 2440 m above sea level, you reach the Colle di Costa Fiorita, where you briefly descend before turning northwest and taking trail no. 214 towards the Passo Paschiet, located at 2435 m. From here, you enter the valley carved by the Rio Paschiet, dominated to the west by the sheer rock faces of Torre d’Ovarda and Cima di Costa Piana, and to the east and northeast by Punta Golai, Cima Chiavesso, Bec del Fauset, and the Forte. You begin the long descent towards Balme, first passing, at about 2225 m, the Gino Gandolfo bivouac, and then the enchanting Laghi Verdi (2142 m). After crossing Pian Buet (2006 m), the fork for Lago Paschiet (1890 m), and Alpe Garavela (1720 m), you enter a beautiful larch forest until reaching the Frazione Cornetti di Balme, where the Albergo Rifugio Les Montagnards is located, recommended for overnight stays.