Resorts: Breuil-Cervinia
The Breithorn Occidentale is the first “mountain above four thousand metres” on the border hills between Italy and Switzerland. The southern side of the mountain is entirely covered by the Grand Verra Glacier, that only during drought years and late in the season does it allow small rows of rocks to peak out.
The excursion can easily be done in a day from Cervinia with the cable car but it is advisable to book the Cervino Guide Refuge on the Rosà Plateau to allow you to acclimatise properly.
From the Cervino Guide Refuge to the Rosà Plateau - accessible from Cervinia via the cable car - you can follow the ski-lift trail on the glacier and, at the end of it, you can continue on the ski slope until you come to the large Breithorn Plateau. From here, turn northwards heading towards the clear glacier slide and keeping an eye on the cervasses. Head up the steep slope, normally moving diagonally from right to left, to reach the snowy ridge trimmed with views on the Swiss side. Finally, turning right, you will touch on the vast peak, excellent panoramic point on the entire group of Mount Rosa, Cervino and Vallese mountains.
Descent: down the upward itinerary.
This itinerary requires experience of high mountains and it is recommended that you get a mountain guide to accompany you.
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.
Alpine guides