La valle dell'Olen
Starting point: Alagna 1205 m
Arrival point: Col d'Olen 2881 m
Difference in height: 1676 m
Difficulty: easy
Hiking Time: 4 hours from Alagna, 2 hours from Pianalunga
Season: late spring to autumn
Point of reference: Rifugio Der Shopf , loc Wittine tel 348 3307292 , Rifugio Grande Halte, loc alpe Sewij tel 0163 91104, Rifugio Guglielmina loc Col d'Olen 0163 91444, Rifugio Cittą di Vigevano loc col D'Olen 0163 91105
Trail number: n°5
The valley of Olen is one of the largest and most famous in the Alagna territory, both for the ski lifts and for being the theatre of Alpine history on Mont Rosa in the 19th century. It is a valley of glacial origin with the typical U shape that declines from soft pastures at 2000 m to a more rocky, austere environment as you increase in height. Closer to the hill (Colle) where the vegetation is less dense and the environment appears rather lunar, it is frequently possible to encounter herds of chamois and ibex that practically ignore the presence of man. Along the route after about an hour's walk, you'll arrive at the hamlet Wittine, with its intact Walser mountain huts and further along, Alpe Sewij and ample plains where the refuge, Grande Halte is comfortably set.
Near the hill, two historical refuges, Guglielmina and Cittą di Vigevano, once renowned, high altitude hotels, make Col D'Olen a well-known destination where welcome is ancient tradition. The queen Margherita of Savoy and her entourage stayed over at the refuge Guglielmina many times while the Cittą of Vigevano remained open for the entire 20th century, restoring the splendour of its antique tradition over the years. Not far away is the International Scientific Institute A.Mosso, situated in the basin between the Corno del Camoscio and Stolemberg. Inaugurated in 1907 and destined for the study of Physiology and Botany, today it is a spacious museum that put its historic cultural heritage of the study of human physiology at high altitudes to the disposal of visitors. It also hosts the Snow and Alpine Soil Laboratory (Lnsa) of the Department of Agroforesta Resource Protection (Divapra) of the Agrarian Faculty of the University of Torino.
The route
Trail n°5 starts from the hamlet Bonda, near the ski lift in Alagna and rises up bordering the hamlets of Dosso and Piane. It crosses the torrent Olen and reaches Alpe Seiwij where it meets up with the refuge, Grand Halte. It continues until the first ski lift stop of Pianalunga and leads onto the mountain pastures passing by a big boulder called Sasso del Diavolo (Devil's Rock). The trail rises up through the rocks leading to the hill (Colle) close to refuge Guglielmina.
Alternative routes and connections
In the vicinity of Sasso del Diavolo trail n°5b breaks off leading to the Foric Pass and the Otro valley. Following trail n°6 from Col d'Olen one can descend into the valley again until Gressoney. Behind refuge Guglielmina, a well-defined trail starts that leads to Corno del Camoscio 3026 m in about 15 minutes, which is considered one of the best viewpoints for Mont Rosa.
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