SAR 8
Gran Paradiso from the west: a snow summit and glaciers above dark rocky ridges, under a clear sky.

Gran Paradiso4,061 m

Sheet 02 of 11Stage 2027

Range:
Graian Alps
Coordinates:
45.5144° N, 7.2697° E

From the west, the side the normal route climbs, in October 2015. The dotted line is the normal route, schematic; huts and lifts are placed by hand.

The climb, to scale

  1. Gran Paradiso4,061 mSummit

  2. Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II2,735 mNight

  3. Pont1,960 mTrailhead

How hard

The route’s grade
F+Glacier, short rock
For me
Glacier intro
Mountain days
2
Inside a 5–⁠7 day course
Biggest day
+1,330 m
4–⁠5 h up, 3–⁠4 h down
Season
Jun–⁠Sep
  • Endurance
  • Altitude
  • Technical
  • Exposure

After the skills course. The summit day matches Olympus day 1 metre for metre, but starts at 2,735 m in crampons and ends on exposed rock. Easier after Olympus.

  • Alpine boots
  • Crampons
  • Ice axe
  • Harness & rope
  • Helmet

Why it is in the plan

From the roadmap: 2027, alpine foundation.

  • First 4,000 m alpine summit.
  • First proper glacier experience.
  • Practice crampons, rope movement and altitude exposure.
  • Prepare for Mont Blanc.

What it adds

  • Technical ability
  • Altitude experience
  • Expedition experience
  • Endurance
  • Mountain judgment
  • Risk management

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, SRTM. Contours © OpenTopoMap, CC BY-SA. Aerial © Esri.