ASCENT TO MONTE CAMINO
Place of departure:
Oropa Sanctuary
Place of arrival:
Monte Camino
Departure altitude:
1180 m
Arrival altitude:
2388 m
Duration:
2 hours 30 minutes for the ascent
Uphill height difference:
1200 m
Type of excursion:
Ski touring
Ski difficulty:
Medium skier
Prevailing exposure:
South
Discover fantastic views toward Mount Rosa and a descent overlooking the dome of the Oropa Sanctuary
Access and parking
From Biella reach Oropa and park your car in the large cable car yard.
Route
The trip starts near the Sanctuary of Oropa and allows you to climb up to the summit of Monte Camino, with a splendid panorama towards Monte Rosa. The route is often busy, for the descent several variants are possible, with various difficulties and to carefully evaluate according to one's abilities and preparation.
Check the snow conditions and consider that the winter mountain, in all its forms, is a potentially difficult and dangerous terrain. Adequate experience, training and preparation is required.
Once parked, it is necessary to head to the left, up the slope, past the ski school and skating rink and across the cross-country trail. You then gain elevation in the forest and, with a few hairpin bends, come near a junction that leads to nearby Lake Bose. Ignore the fork and continue along the main track that goes up towards the arrival of the Cable Car and towards Lake Mucrone. Continue along a slope called Busancano, which is wide and has no particular difficulty in climbing. Shortly after passing safety nets at the edge of the slope, a steeper section begins; keeping to the right you head toward the lift arrival station (1870m).
When you reach the top station, continue, still uphill, to the pylons of the ski lift to Monte Camino. Above your head, you will then find nice baskets of the ski lift; you will then need to follow the main slope again and go up to the top station of the lifts. Just before the station, you can refresh yourself at the Capanna Renata refuge (2391 m). From here, you will shortly reach the summit where there is a small chapel.
The view towards Monte Rosa will repay you for the efforts of the climb.
The descent is mostly along the ascent route.