Punta Valfredda (2941m), trail 5

Bino to Punta Valfredda via Valnera Pass.

The summit cairn at Punta Valfredda, 2941m

The summit cairn at Punta Valfredda, 2941m

Trail 5 starts from the hamlet of Bino and arrives at Punta Valfredda (2941m) passing first through Valnera Pass (2676m). It is 5561m long and the total positive elevation gain is 1552m.
The approximate time for the ascent is 4h38. The trail is rated EE difficulty.

The Valnera Pass connects the Lys Valley with Palasina, above Brusson in Val D’Ayas. The trail starts between two holes of the golf course immediately upstream of the village of Gressoney Saint-Jean, to the left of the state road.

Although it is a trail that starts practically from the village, it is very little traveled and crosses a barren and lonely landscape with a few ruined and abandoned alpine pastures. The climb is monotonous and almost constantly in the sun from the beginning (which is why it is strongly recommended to start very early in the morning).

From Punta Valfredda The Corno Vitello, behind it the Testa Grigia

From Punta Valfredda The Corno Vitello, behind it the Testa Grigia

Note that even Valnera Pass alone can be a worthy final destination. From Valnera Pass one can reach, if one does not want to continue to Punta Valfredda, the closer Punta Valnera (2754m), which is less scenic but no less appreciable.

The continuation to Punta Valfredda runs almost entirely to the left of the ridge: it presents no particular difficulty, but it is not clearly marked, and one must be able to identify the path by following cairns and sparse colored bolts (it is in fact this section that made the trail of EE difficulty).

When you reach the top of Punta Valfredda, you have an excellent view (of course) of the Pink, on the neighbor Corno Vitello (can be reached via the trails 5A and 5B in sequence) and the Testa Grigia (trail 6): from the Ayas side you can see the Valfredda lakes, the Palasina lakes, the Corno Bussola and, looking for it carefully because it is hidden by the slope, the very close and mammoth Arp Refuge (easily reached from the Colle Valnera). Looking south instead, one obviously identifies Punta Valnera and the Eclou Mouth (normally reached via Trail 4) and Mont Ciosé (which can be reached from the Ranzola Pass via an unmapped route described as “dangerous,” which I have not hitherto traveled).

Be careful not to get confused: trail 5 passes through the Valnera Hill and leads to Punta Valfredda, while instead the trail 5A leads to Valfredda Pass but from there only Corno Vitello can be reached via 5B (and not, as one would be led to believe, Punta Valfredda: between Punta Valfredda and Colle Valfredda, although close, there are in fact no hiking trails).