GTA Stage 23 Alpe Baranca - Carcoforo | Biella Valsesia Vercelli

Highlights and tour details

Continue to climb from Alpe Baranca towards the homonymous pass along route 517. At an altitude of about 1640 metres you will find a small chapel built inside a large boulder by the Alpine troop of Fobello Group. Going up along some hairpin bends brings you near the waterfall formed by the waters coming out of Lake Baranca (1775 m), source of the Mastallone Stream. You ford it at the point where it comes out of the lake, bringing you onto the left bank and shortly after to the Colle di Baranca (1818 m) that adjoins with Valle Olocchia. You then reach Alpe Selle at 1824 metres, with its numerous, partly restored huts. Beyond a depression not far away, you can see the ruins of what once was the superb Villa Aprilia, destroyed during the last world war.

Close to a large cattle trough, you start to climb again through open pasture areas, skirting the base of Cima dei Turni (2110 m) and then that of the ridge that joins it to M. Cimonetto. The path makes a large semicircle in a south-easterly direction and leads to Colle d'Egua (2239 m) from where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Monte Rosa massif. Near the pass there is the stone building that houses the Volpone-Sesone Bivouac. Following path 122, you descend from the pass towards Carcoforo in Val d'Egua, firstly passing Alpe Sellette (1915 m) and then, after crossing grassy ground rich in alpine flora, reaching Alpe Egua at 1799 metres. From here you quickly descend to Alpe Piovale below (1637 m), upstream of which is Rifugio Maierma (1685 m), owned by the CAI of Boffalora Ticino. The path then descends, keeping upstream of the Giacc and Casera Bianca Alps; leave the junction on the right with route 121 towards Passo del Laghetto and continue to descend moderately into a larch grove until you reach the Chapel delle Torbe, which overlooks the village of Carcoforo. You shortly reach the first houses upstream of the village and then the centre, located on the right side of the Egua stream.