- The Umberto Cattani Bivouac was located on the orographic left of the Lys, above the “springs of the Lys,” which can be reached via Trail 7.
Approximate location of Cattani Bivouac
- I report the information that was kindly provided to me by the Gressoney CAI.
It was built in 1972: between May 8 and 10, 1975, it was completely destroyed by a rock slide.
It is dedicated to Umberto Cattani: for many years a CAI member from Gressoney, a graduate in physics, the first of the 4 sons of Hon. Leone Cattani (former minister of public works in the first De Gasperi government), he died at the age of 28 on August 20, 1969 on Gran Paradiso (northeast face of Herbetetet). He was buried in Colleretto Giacosa (Ivrea) in the family tomb; he had been married since 1968 to Fausta Ferro Luzzi. - It can sometimes be found mentioned in some hiking guides: in 1985 Piergiorgio Bosio, in his “Gressoney, hiking routes along the Lys Valley,” mentioned its remains, which, to this day, are virtually untraceable.
Cattani’s quote in Bosio’s guide
- A kind Facebook user allowed me to post this photo of him of the area where, on the right, scattered remnants should still be found.
Cattani Bivouac area (on the right)
- Davide Camisasca, a famous photographer and mountain guide from Gressoney, recently sent me this exceptional photo that seems to be, to date, the only existing image of the Cattani Bivouac! The photo was taken during the first winter ascent of the south spur of the Lyskamm Nose, made by Davide Camisasca, Jose Angster and Pino Tartagni from February 15 to 17, 1973. Pictured are from left to right Davide Camisasca, Jose Angster, Pino Tartagni, and Arturo Bieler who had accompanied them to the bivouac. An article (from Lo Scarpone of April 1, 1973) in which Pino Tartagni recounts the feat can be found in this PDF.
Cattani Bivouac, 1973
