Via Ferrata Locana

Introduction:

The Ferrata di Locana, also known as the Ferrata di San Lorenzo Piantonetto, is a very well-equipped railway that climbs a granite slab in the Piantonetto valley in the province of Turin. The via ferrata is modern and impeccably equipped. The experts of via ferrata will find the number of stirrups too limited, which limits the possibilities for climbing. The via ferrata is perfect for those who want to become familiar with this activity.

Starting location:

To reach the starting point of the Ferrata di Locana we will have to take the road that leads from Rosone (Turin) into the Gran Paradiso Park towards Lake Teleccio. Once in Rosone from the road that goes up the Orco Valley from Pont Canavese and almost out of the hamlet we will have to turn right. There are two roads that go off to the right: we take the second with directions for Pirantonetto. The road goes up the valley with a series of hairpin bends in succession. The road passes next to a construction company while it narrows and runs parallel to the stream and, just before crossing it, we meet a clearing where we park.

Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

The approach is about 20 minutes and a notice board with information about theapproach. We cross the road returning towards the valley and on the opposite side of the stream we follow the path. The path climbs south through the woods to the start of the via ferrata.

Via Ferrata:

The route starts near an electricity pylon. After the first meters of ascent we will have to descent easily to reach a suspension bridge.

After the suspension bridge of about 30 meters (which can be bypassed on the right with an aided path), the route continues to the left with an easy aided traverse. Following the travers, you face a aided wall of about 15 meters where the many brackets present make the climb easy. We leave behind the suspended bridge and we continue to the left again where we meet the aided path that will act as a descent route. We ignore the detour left and right and we climb vertically on a new wall full of metal brackets. We proceed on a easy connecting section before the last vertical wall of the route beyond which we have finished the climb.

We follow the metal cable on the right that goes down one rocky slab. We reach the crossroads uphill and in this case we continue downhill reaching a balma. We cross it and continue alternating equipped sections with sections of path up to glimpse the bridge and then go down to the starting point of the road near the trellis.

Descent:

At the end of the descent of the via ferrata and back to the starting point of the cables to return to the car, we follow the path of approach backwards.

Notes:

The Ferrata of Locana or Ferrata of San Lorenzo Piantonetto is a modern ferrata, well equipped and generally easy, ideal for getting closer to more difficult and demanding via ferrata, of which the area is well equipped. As indicated in the report, the equipped way forms an 8 in which the intersection of the ascent and descent can also provide an escape route for those wishing to interrupt the ascent.

Opportunities:

In the same valley, descending in the direction of Pont Canavese we meet precisely the Ferrata di Pont Canavese which presents two variants: the normal variant of difficult level and the extreme variant of extremely difficult level and not to be underestimated.

Between Ferrate in the province of Turin we signal the various itineraries present in Val di Susa: the Ferrata Carlo Giordia at the Sacra di San Michele, the Ferrata of the Orrido of Foresto and Chianocco, the Ferrata to the Chaberton and the Via Ferrata of Rouas in Bardonecchia. Among the itineraries in other Turin valleys we point out the Via Ferrata Ciardelli, the Via Ferrata Rocca Candelera and the Pra Catinat Ferrata.