Rocciamelone |
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Height: 3538 mt on the sea level. Text and pictures by Andrea Rolando. It is the higher mountain in Susa’s Valley, and it is certaintly the most fascinating one. The first climb to the top of Rocciamelone is dated September 1st, 1358 by Bonifacio Rotario d’Asti. He was made prisoner in Holy Land, and he made the vote to climb the highest mountain in Italy should he be set free. Indeed according to the believe of the time, the Rocciamelone – strong of a good fame - was believed to be the highest mountain of the Alps. During the climb Bonifacio built a shelter – today’s Ca D’Asti, which can be considered the first alpine refuge of history – and brought with him the famous showing Virgin Mary, leaving it on the top of Rocciamelone to witness his ascension. The first Rocciamelone’s climb foregoes of centuries alpinism – even though it was motivated by spiritual rather than sportive reasons: the Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) was climbed more than 400 years later, the Monviso only on 1861! During the years a lot of popular devotion grown around the Rocciamelone, such that in 1844 Italian king Vittorio Emanuele II climbed to the top and in 1899 was built on the top of Rocciamelone a statue dedicated to Virgin Mary, paid with the donation of 130.000 children and arduously carried to the top by the Alpini [the Italian militaries specialized to operate in the Alps, ndr]. Moreover, on the top was built (and repeatedly rebuilt) a small shelter-sanctuary, where every year on August 5th the local community celebrates a Mass with believers coming from all Susa’s Valley. The view on can appreciate from the top of Rocciamelone is very widespread and includes almost all the western Alps, including the Monviso, all the main French massives (Ecrins and Vanoise), the very far away Mont Blanc with the Dente del Gigante and the Grandes Jorasses in evidence. The Grand Combin, Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa are just recognisable, while near by we have Croce Rossa, Ciamarella, Bessanese, Albaron, Charbonnel and Roncia. Looking down from top there is the Rocciamelone’s glacier. The glacier has undergone substantial shrinking and since 1985 it has formed a lake, today 600 mt long by 50 mt wide and up to 18 mt deep - and growing. The evolution of Rocciamelone’s glacier and lake is constantly monitored to avoid catastrophic events. On www.nimbus.it there are al lot of images and news on this topic. |