Hike from the Rifugio Albergo Pian del Re (2040 m.) under the North-east face of Monviso (3841 m.) to see the Sources of the River Po, Italy’s longest river that flows from here in the Cottian Alps to the Adriatic across the whole of the north of the country. Close by is the mountain in France, Le Pain de Sucre (3208 m.), another of the very few summits over 3000 m. to which I've hiked.
Monviso is the culmination of various glacial hanging valleys of which our car climbed most of the altitude. Onwards and upwards on foot but treated to close-up views of the big granite rock opposite and out over the plain towards the Alpi Apui in Toscane and the lakes north of Torino and Milano across the plain. We took our picnic at the viewpoint known as La Sellaccia (2369 m.). Using binoculars, we saw two figures on the summit of Monviso, alongside the cross. We heard the calls of Marmottes and saw Vultures but the soundscape was dominated by the sound of moving water.
Monviso summit (3841 m.)
La Sellaccia (2369 m.).
Source of the River Po
Rifugio Albergo Pian del Re (2040 m.)
