A beautiful, bucolic, and relaxing crag set in a truly wonderful location. Thanks to the ever-active mountain guide Davide Frachey, three sectors have been equipped, but the potential is still immense for anyone wishing to add more routes. It is an ideal spot for beginners and families alike. The rock is reliably solid, and on those warmer days, you can easily combine your climbing with a refreshing dip in the beautiful alpine lake. The mountain hut, just a stone's throw away, serves as a very convenient base.
The Bellevue and Dalle Verte sectors face south-west, while La Plage faces north, though in summer it receives some sunshine, but only after 4:00 pm.
ROAD ACCESS
Take the valley leading to Gressoney at Pont Saint Martin along the SR 44, following it for 11 km until the junction on the right with signs for "Rifugio della Barma" (brown sign).
ACCESS ON FOOT
First option
Follow the road to the Pian Coumarial car park (1450 m asl) for about 8 km. From here, follow the lovely 2D path on foot to reach the Alta Via (1875 m asl). Continue to the left and shortly after, at an altitude of 1950 m asl at Cresta Damon, leave the path leading to Monte Mars on the right and continue left. The path descends, and at 1870 m asl, take the fork to the right. Reach the Alpeggio Bonnel near the two homonymous small lakes and begin climbing again until you join path no. 2. Near the upper Lei Long lake, keep uphill at the junction and leave path 2b on your right. Follow path no. 2 all the way to the La Barma Refuge at 2060 m (2h 30m).
Second option
From the junction on the SR 44, take the road towards Pian Coumarial, but after 4.7 km turn left at the fork and head towards Lake Vargno until you reach the car park bounded by a chain and a no-entry road sign (coordinates: N 45.653586, E 7.90033). From here, walk along the carriage road past Lake Vargno, and then follow path no. 2 to the La Barma refuge (2 h).
Third option
Reach the Sanctuary of Oropa (Biella) via the SP144 main road. Take the "Rosazza gallery" road and park near a votive chapel (coordinates: N 45.631362, E 7.976691; 1250 m asl) where the sign for the Rifugio della Barma is clearly visible. Proceed on foot along path D13 to the top station of the Oropa cable car (currently closed). Next, take path D21, and at an altitude of 1960 m asl, turn left at the junction onto path D22 until you reach the Colle della Barma at 2250 m asl. From here, a pleasant 10-minute descent brings you to the refuge (3h 10m).
For those who wish, the refuge offers a shuttle service from Pian Coumarial to the car park below Lake Vargno. For further details and timetables, you can contact the Refuge directly or visit the website https://www.rifugiobarma.it/
BELLEVUE
BELLEVUE
1) Aladino — 4c — 25 m — The first three routes are on very beautiful grey rock with green/yellow lichen
2) I balenieri — 4c — 25 m — Slab
3) Zagor — 4b — 23 m — Slab
4) Du jal da barma — 6b — 18 m — Black slab
5) Noir desir — 6b — 15 m — Starts to the left of the crack
6) Bellevue — 5b — 16 m — Beautiful climbing on excellent holds
7) Beaux gestes dans un ciel bleu — 5c — 15 m — Corner/groove
8) Papillon — 7a — 15 m — Overhanging slab, goes into the shade after 4:00 pm (exposed)
DALLE VERTE SECTOR
DALLE VERTE SECTOR
This sector is located on the same rock band as Bellevue, but on its far-right side, on beautiful grey rock patterned with green/yellow lichen.
1) Mon soleil — 5c — 20 m — Slab
2) Á la lune — 5b — 18 m — Slab
3) Ji — 3c — 15 m — Slab
4) Choux — 4c — 15 m — Slab
5) Simonetti — 4b — 10 m — Slab
6) Marti — 4b — 10 m — Slab, shared belay with the previous route
LA PLAGE
LA PLAGE
1) Vieni via con me — 6a — 25 m — Beautiful vertical wall
2) Reve de sticks — 6a+ — 24 m — Same as above
3) Chicca — 6a+ — 22 m — Follows an arête
4) La bombè — 7a+ — 19 m — Overhanging finish on crimps
5) Tica de jano — 6b+ — 19 m — A mantel
6) Az-zanna — 6b+ — 15 m — Sustained climbing on crimps
7) L'amour dans les rhododendrons — 5c — 8 m — Short slab
8) Captain achab — 7a+ — 10 m — Short overhanging arête