5 days to reach Capanna Margherita entirely on foot, without using lifts, because the rush of daily life almost always disappoints.
Take your time to approach the goal, savoring the journey. Reaching Capanna Margherita on foot from Alagna is a timeless experience. Ascending slowly, following your own rhythm and that of the mountain, ensures the right acclimatization and a balanced ascent that will lead you to the peak with self-love. Nights in the refuge, the green meadows of Otro, Lake Gabiet, and the moraine of Stolemberg will teach you to fully enjoy your experience beyond 4000 meters. Indelible moments that will show you that the adventure is never in the destination but always in the path you take to reach it.
Ascending in high mountains should never be underestimated and requires adequate physical and emotional preparation. It should be a conscious choice, guided by the goals you wish to achieve, but never losing sight of self-love and the natural environment, which should always be given due consideration.
IFAGM mountain guide 4 days, half board in the mountain huts indicated, transfer of high mountain equipment to Indren, technical equipment (harness and any equipment needed if available)
For the first part of this hike you'll need standard trekking equppement, comfortable boots/trainers are suggested, we'll meet you is Salati's pass on the third day to change the backpack into high-mountaineering one.
In the second backpack you should have
- 5 layers of clothing for the upper body (thermal shirt, light fleece, heavy fleece, down jacket, anorak.)
- two set of gloves (soft and ski ones)
- sunglasses (with 3 or 4 protection)
- heavy trousers (windproof)
- underpants
- gaiters
- rigid, ankle height, waterproof boots.
- two pair of ski socks
- headlamp
- hat that covers your ears
- sleeping bag liner for the hut
- sun screen & lip balm
- poles
- ice axe (if are used to it)
- helmet is recommended but not compulsory
- 1lt water bottle/thermos
- harness & crampons
Please note, a sleeping bag liner is mandatory in all mountain huts.
We suggest a lightweight, reusable sleeping bag liner. Let's protect the mountains from waste
Our favorite sleeping bag liner
The ascent to Capanna Margherita is suitable for individuals with good mountain training and the ability to handle consecutive climbs of 4/5 hours.
Reaching the hut involves a 1/1.5-hour ascent on the first day and a 4/5-hour ascent on the second, with a total elevation gain of 1300 meters. Proper training involves maintaining a vertical hourly pace/speed during your training climbs of 300/350 meters of average elevation gain per hour.
The trip doesn't involve particular technical difficulties but takes place entirely on glaciers or high mountain terrain. There are no exposed points or airy ridges to cross. There are short sections of easy via ferrata to reach Capanna Gnifetti and the Christ of the Summits. It's a long trek on snow/ice, with occasionally steep slopes, to be tackled in a roped party so that, in case of an individual's fall, it can be arrested by the weight/momentum of the other hikers.
Remember, the more gradual the acclimatization, the better. If you have limited time and choose the 2-day trip, consider staying at least one night before the ascent to the hut (Rifugio Mantova 3498 m and Rifugio Gnifetti 3647 m) in Gressoney or Alagna.
Note: Rope teams for the ascent to Capanna Margherita are allowed with a maximum of 5 climbers per UIAGM mountain guide.
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