Western Alps solo tour living in my Jeep Wrangler - July 2022
Overland - Freecamping - Rooftop Tent
One week trip crossing the Italian Western Alps from Val di Susa to Via del Sale
ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
In this first episode I spend 2 days on the trail to Col du Sommeiller, reaching 3000 m asl on the European highest road reachable by motorized vehicles, at the borders between Italy and France.
Starting from Bardonecchia, the climb is 26.3 kilometers long, with a vertical drop of 1,711 meters. The average percentage is 6.5%, with peaks of 19%. The asphalted part is only 20% of the route and ends in Rochemolles after a few kilometers.
The itinerary starts from Bardonecchia in the direction of ROCHEMOLLES following the asphalted provincial road SP 235, climbs up the left orographic side of the valley. A stretch that must be covered with great care and caution because the road is narrow and does not always offer points of visibility in the woods. This leads to this Alpine village at 1,620 meters above sea level, founded over a thousand years ago and which was an autonomous municipality from 1336 until 1926, it is built along the stream at the base of the mountain and a short stop is pleasant to visit the village in largely restored as in origin and to its ancient church dating back to 1200.
After the town, the asphalt leaves room for a rather drivable dirt road and passes next to the artificial basin of the ROCHEMOLLES DAM built in the 1930s, continuing on a flat level you reach the Picreaux commemorative plaque where a plaque commemorating the death of 21 Alpini of the Fenestrelle Battalion, hit by an avalanche in the distant 1931 and then reach the vast plateau at the base of the imposing Rognosa d'Etiache characterized by spectacular waterfalls, where the Scarfiotti Refuge is located at 2,165 m high
The road continues to the right and at that point where the old military road ended, at the foot of the mule tracks that connected the outposts and the observatories at high altitude, with a spectacular climb on an infinite "staircase" you reach Pian dei Morti, this section requires particular attention as shown and without any downstream protections.
The last kilometers of ascent to reach the COLLE DELLE SOMMEILLER are the most difficult due to the bumpy road surface, but the most thanks to the spectacular views of the surrounding Alps that will be enjoyed from the Colle will be worth it to arrive here. Immediately after the pass there is the border with France, the dirt road continues for a few hundred meters after the parking lot and runs along the small lake, but it is only allowed to travel on foot or by bicycle and with a few minutes on foot you can reach and overcome the 3,000 meters of altitude on the moraine of the glacier from where you can see what remains of it today.
ABOUT MY GEAR:
MAIN JEEP GEAR:
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD
- Lift
- Tires 315/70 R17 Bf Goodrich All Terrein KO2
- Heavy use front and rear bumbers
MAIN CAMPING GEAR:
- Roofrack Slimline II EXTREME 1/2 ROOF RACK KIT - BY FRONT RUNNER
- Ikamper Skycamp mini 3.0 + rapid release system BY FRONT RUNNER
- 270° Awning
- Trasharoo spare tire bag
- Auxiliary battery 80 Ah
MAIN VIDEO GEAR:
- Fujifilm XT4 camera
- Fujinon 16mm f 1.4 lens
- Fujinon 18-55 mm f 2.8 lens
- DJI Mavic MINI 2
- DJI AIR 2S
- DJI Osmo Action
#jeep #overland #westalps
16 июл 2022
