Climb to Rifugio Vittorio Sella from Cogne

The ibex hike through the Gran Paradiso Natural Park to Pascieux and Gran Lauson is an unforgettable experience, in a very beautiful natural paradise. The route offers breathtaking views of the Alpine region and, with a bit of luck, the opportunity to observe ibex, chamois and golden eagles/bearded vultures in their natural habitat. The starting point of the hike was in the heart of the Gran Paradiso Natural Park, one of the oldest national parks in Europe. From here the route led through the impressive landscape of mountains, valleys and forests. The path was well marked and had a steady climb (830 meters in altitude) that rewarded with impressive landscapes and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. In Pascieux, a long-abandoned settlement awaited us at the foot of the mountains. The further steep climb to Gran Lauson was worth it because we saw a large number of chamois on the lower slopes. I suspect there wasn't an ibex there, unfortunately. But I can only determine this at home when I evaluate the images from the camera. A pair of bearded vultures drew attention with their unmistakable call as they circled close to the rock walls and looked for prey. After a while of wildlife watching we left Gran Lauson. Past an inhabited house that was guarded by two powerful, “chained” livestock guard dogs, we walked at a distance from the building, the same way back to our starting point. We rejected the return route I had originally planned in favor of my wife, as the alpine path down the valley would have been too difficult. This ibex tour through the Gran Paradiso Natural Park to Pascieux and Gran Lauson was an unforgettable experience that thrilled us. With the breathtaking scenery and the opportunity to observe chamois and bearded vultures in their natural habitat, this route offered us a sustainable experience.