Perucca-Vuillermoz Refuge, from Perrères
Edited by:
Maurizio Bergamini
Updated at: 03/09/2024
Introduction
A hike along the Cignana valley, dotted with lakes and enclosed by imposing rock walls.
Description
At Perrères, the last outpost before Cervinia, park the car after crossing the tunnel, just under 5 km after the village of Valtournenche. From the car park, cross a small wooden bridge over the Marmore stream and meet path 107. The initial path crosses the meadows and after a few hundred metres reaches a farm road, after which it continues uphill until it reaches a second road that must be followed for a few hundred metres. The path proper, always indicated, will take us after about 500 metres of ascent to Finestre di Cignana. On the ascent, you will cross the Alta Via 3 and will be able to see some excellent viewpoints of the Matterhorn and the Cime Bianche. At Finestre di Cignana (2 h / 2441 m) you descend (250 m) towards the basin of the lake of the same name until you reach an alpine pasture (water): here you cross a gentle stream and follow the high route 3 towards the ascent to the mountain hut (there is also a signpost for Rifugio PV on a beige background).
The ascent is equipped with via ferrata sections (chains) at the most exposed points, but the difficulty is slight. Once past the first ridge overlooking Lake Cignana, you reach a section where the spaces become wider (Piano Superiore). Having crossed the stream, one begins to climb on a well-defined path that cuts across the rocky ridge and reaches the Manenti bivouac after about 200 m in altitude difference. (2789 m). The refuge is in sight and after twenty minutes you reach it. It is dedicated to the two young mountaineers from Valle d'Aosta, Piergiorgio Perucca and Corrado Vuillermoz, who fell from the Lyskamm on 17 September 1985.
The hut can be considered an excellent base for the Alta Via 3 and for excursions to the Chateau des Dames (3489 m), the Mont Rous (3242 m), the Pointes des Fontanelles (3382 and 3384 m) as well as the Colle di Valcornera (3066 m), the Colle di bella Tza (3044 m) and the Colle di Vofrede 3130m).