Italy's Piedmont Creeks
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- Last Updated on Saturday, 01 January 2000 00:00
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Notes on Italy's Piedmont Creeks
by Dr Robin
(Taken from http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2630highlight=piedmont)
Info IS tricky to find, someone really needs to write a decent guidebook to the area. Apparently, the neighbouring valleys also have good creeks, such as the Chiusella, and the runs near Laggio Maggiore. As I say, I spent one week in Val Sesia, so I'm NOT an authority on the area. But I'll tell about the runs I did, which will hopefully give you an impression of the place.
We stayed in the campsite at Campertogno, which is surrounded by beautiful scenery. The place is well set up for boating, with plenty of maps available, and even signposts and little changing rooms at the more popular get-ons. The runs we did were:
River: Sesia from Mollia to Scopello
Grade: 3/4/4+(5)(6)
Description: Medium volume run, varied in difficulty, with some ugly holes and 2 ugly falls.
Advice: Watch out for the pushy section below Piode!
River: Gronda. Drive to Rassa and then walk up as far as you like from there.
Grade: 4/5
Description: Ridiculously steep low volume creek, with some classic slides and drops.
Advice: Allow a plenty of time to do this run, as it requires a lot of inspection. (Continue into the Sorba if you like, but don't go into the gorge of doom.)
River: Egua. Section from road bridge to Molino.
Grade: 5
Description: Insanely steep low volume creek with mind-blowing slabs and drops. A gem.
Advice: A lot of inspection required. Also, it's quite cold this high up the valley.
River: Lower Mastallone, 6 km section from Bocciolaro to Varallo.
Grade: 4(5+)
Description: Reasonably straightforward creek (apart from the 5+) with a beautiful sheer-sided gorge section.
Advice: Inspect the gorge before getting on! (Upper sections of Mastallone looked a bit bony when we were there.)
River: Sesia gorge
Grade: 4/4+(5)(6)
Description: Short run, varied in difficulty, with a awkward portage.
Advice: Pushy in high water.
River: Lower Sermenza, from a km above Boccioleto to Balmuccia.
Grade: 4/5(6)
Description: The km or so above Boccioleto is tough, and requires much inspection, and probably at least 2 portages. Below Boccioleto the run eases into a section of 4/4+(5). As you enter the gorge in Balmuccia the difficulty increases again with some pushy 4+.
Advice: If you haven't much time or energy, get in at Boccioleto.
River: Upper Sermenza, from San Giuseppe to Rimasco.
Grade: 4/5(6)
Description: Very tight steep creek, with some lovely drops and slides.
Advice: Most of the hardest rapids are hiden from the road! Also, put in just below San Giuseppe to avoid portaging a horrible 6.
River: Sesia from Boccorio to Mollia
Grade: 4/4+(5)(6)
Description: Pushy medium volume creek which requires concentration.
Advice: Check out the rapids at Mollia as you drive up!
With thanks to Dr Robin.
I've just got back from Val Sesia. Levels are currently good (but you probably know that already from looking at the photos of the teva event). While I was there it rained A LOT which I think was falling as snow on the hills. In fact there was still plenty of snow at the get-ins high up the valley.
However, the runs high up the valley (Egua, upper Sermenza, Gronda) are very tight, and would become bony if there was much less water. I'd be very surprised if they were still running in late June. You'll probably find some stuff to do on the Sesia or maybe the lower Sermenza if you're lucky, but this isn't really what Val Sesia is famous for, so is it worth it?
Fancy going out there and other areas in Piedmont next easter (school holidays). I know that it might be cold, but if there is enough water .... I am going! Where are the photos posted from the Teva event, when is it held?
Also, one summer, we moved from Briacon to Austria, stopped for two nights in Val Sesia, beautiful valley, worth the trip, we ran the Sesia gorge and lower sesia. Both fun trips.
Cheers, Neil.
carl-and-lizzie.fotopic.net/c173083.html
The Teva event is held in early may. This year it was done on the Gronda and the Egua. See the write-up at:
playak.com/article.php?sid=468
We arrived on April 24th, and levels were good. By the looks of the photos, levels were still good for the Teva event. Late April to early May seems to be the season.
Believe me, you have NOT done Val Sesia justice by paddling the Sesia gorge and the lower Sesia. If you liked those sections, you'll be BLOWN AWAY by the stuff higher up the valley.
N.B. I've no idea how good a paddler you are, so I'll just say that some members of our party didn't get on the water very much. Make sure you do plenty of runs on fairy glen before you go!
Some years ago (ahem), we did the hop over to Val Sesia, and did much of the same list that Robin mentioned, in mid to late June. there was plenty of water for the main runs, and the Sesia topolino event was called off due to too much of the stuff, but was a top laugh. It'll probably require some rain to bring some of the larger sections up, but if there is snow up the valley and warmer weather I think the tighter runs will have plenty.
Neil
Any chance? Obviously I'll post it up in the 'reports' section.
Mark Rainsley