Orizzonte Monviso - Stage 4: Crissolo - Hking refuge La Galaberna

The excursion starts from the town hall square of Crissolo (about 1330 m) going uphill along the municipal road for about a hundred metres, then, following the signs on the right for Pian del Re, you pass a narrow passage between the houses and immediately take the mule track that opens on the left a few meters ahead. The route goes up with a direct route towards the first houses of the Serre village, emerges on the left of the church, continues on level ground in the town, then at a crossroads near a fountain (on the left towards the cemetery and then down onto Crissolo) it bends sharply to the right going up between the buildings further upstream, until you emerge on the provincial road (approximately 1390 m). Once you have crossed the road, take the mule track in front which, after a short wooded strip and then along open grassy slopes, reaches the first houses of the Borgo hamlet and a crossroads (ignore the right branch downhill towards the Sanctuary of S. Chiaffredo) . Turn left through narrow alleys, sometimes paved in stone, to quickly arrive near the church overlooking a small square with a wash house (approximately 1510 m). Go alongside the religious building and slope slightly to the right for about a hundred metres, until you leave the asphalt road that heads towards Ciampagna, to take the mule track on the right which progressively descends into the woods. After a few hairpin bends, the route stretches out again and reaches the characteristic stone bridge over the Rio Toussié (approximately 1400 m); a short climb and a stretch on a slight slope allow you to reach the small but lovely chapel of the Madonna degli Angeli (approximately 1430 m) in the Bertolini area shortly afterwards in an open field, with an excellent view of Monviso. Continue on a pleasant grassy surface for about 200 m, until you reach the asphalt road again (approximately 1440m) a few meters beyond the fork on the left towards the Brich village. You go down the road accompanied by the beautiful view of Monviso, leaving on the left first the crossroads for the village of Fenogli, then the one for the village of Sagne, finally the one for the village of Martino, thus arriving directly inside the houses of Ciampagna (approximately 1360 m). Continue on the carriage road admiring the church of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio above, then turn left downhill until you pass the Rio Combe. After about 100 m, you leave the asphalt road to follow an ancient road on the left which is initially narrow (approximately 1310 m - sign for La Villo - signs for the Vie d'Oustano) which enters the beech forest and advances on a slight slope, touching on some detours . We ignore both the one on the left (Davi - Sère) and the one on the right (S. Chafré) to reach the Ënrune pylon (approximately 1295 m); ignore the branch on the left (the Vio des Coste), and continue steadily downhill on the narrow and irregular path until it flattens out slightly just before crossing the asphalt road in the Marchetti area that goes up towards the center of Ostana (approximately 1225 m) , arriving at the Galaberna hiking refuge (Loc. Valentin – Ostana – Villa).

Considering that the route takes place in predominantly mountainous territory, we recommend the use of trekking boots, trousers and a windbreaker in technical fabric.

Nothing to report in this regard

A6 Turin-Savona motorway, exit: Marene toll booth; turn left and merge onto the SS 662 towards Savigliano, continue until Saluzzo, then follow the signs from Saluzzo for the Po valley along the SP 26 or SP 260; A21 TURIN – ALESSANDRIA – PIACENZA motorway, Asti est exit – then continue towards Alba- Bra- Marene- Savigliano- Saluzzo- Valle Po exit (SS 662); from Paesana continue on the SP 26 up to Crissolo. From Turin, ring road, Pinerolo exit, continue on SP 161 towards Bibiana then SP 27 towards Barge – Paesana through the section called “Colletta”; SP 26 in the direction of Crissolo.

From Turin and Cuneo: Atibus, timetables on the website www.buscompany.it/ati, Turin-Saluzzo, Cuneo-Saluzzo, Saluzzo-Paesana lines. From Turin and Pinerolo: Cavourese bus lines, download timetables from the website www.cavourese.it, Turin - Barge line. From Barge and Paesana: Dossetto Bus, timetables on the website www.dossettobus.it, Barge - Paesana - Crissolo line.