Indren Glacier (3288m), trail 6C

From the Salati Pass to the Indren Glacier

Indren Glacier

Trail 6C starts from the Salati Pass (2931m) and reaches the Indren Glacier (3288m). It is 2401m long and the total positive elevation gain is 357m.
The approximate time for the climb is 1h06. The trail is classified as being of EEA difficulty.

Via this trail we reach the edge of the Indren Glacier, along a fairly technically challenging but safe route (some sections equipped with ropes).

Once you reach your destination, you can continue by crossing the Indren Glacier and then rejoin the trail that joins the Città di Mantova and Capanna Gnifetti huts (read the page on Trail 6A for more information on this part of the route).

Before the new Passo dei Salati – Punta Indren cable car was built, this trail was traveled by those who, starting from Passo dei Salati, had Capanna Gnifetti as their destination. Today, the new cable car makes it possible to jump directly onto the Indren Glacier, so this trail is now very rarely used.

More information on level of difficulty, ascent times, maps and GPX tracks

1. Start and finish

Trail 6C starts from Salati Pass, the elevation is 2931m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.8759111894, 7.86823761746

The arrival location is the Indren Glacier. The altitude is 3288m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.8916766619, 7.86064780004

2. The route

The trail starts from the Salati Pass, which can be reached in two ways:

on foot, via trail 6
with the ski lifts, taking first the Stafal-Gabiet gondola and then the Gabiet-Passo dei Salati gondola (here for information on schedules and fares).

As soon as you start, you pass by the arrival of the Cimalegna chairlift, which ascends from the Valsesian side, and then climbs up passing to the left of the Stolenberg (3202m), taking short sections equipped with ropes. Always proceeding in the vicinity of the ridge, it climbs up to the station of the old Punta Indren cable car (3254m). Continue further to the edge of the Indren Glacier (3288m), the end of the 6C trail.

From this point, if you wish, you can continue further toward the Città di Mantova refuge or the Capanna Gnifetti refuge: you must follow the ever-present trail that crosses the Indren glacier until it rejoins the trail coming from the arivo station of the New Punta Indren cable car. Once across the glacier, climb up the opposite steep rock wall (equipped) until you rejoin the trail just above the Città di Mantova Refuge, Which leads to the Gnifetti Hut. Either descend to nearby Mantua, or continue to the Capanna Gnifetti hut, crossing the Garstelet glacier(read the page on trail 6A for more information on this part of the route).

The photo below taken from Google Earth shows the route from the start at the Salati Pass to the finish on the Indren Glacier, with highlights of the continuation to the Mantua and Gnifetti refuges indicated:

In this photo, taken from the summit of Rothore, the two arrival stations of the old and new Indren cable cars are clearly visible, as well as the Indren Glacier and, far away, the Gnifetti Hut:

3. The GPX track

This is the map of the trail, according to the SCT Trail Cadastre of the Aosta Valley.

Download the trail in GPX format

4. Video

Video from Bruno Borello‘s youtube channel walking from the Salati Pass along trail 6C and then on to the Gnifetti Hut.

Video from the youtube channel of Massimo Guarnieri doing the same route, from the Salati to the Gnifetti.