The Grignetta, or Grigna Meridionale, is 2,177 metres high (2,184 according to other sources) and belongs to the Grigne group with the taller Grignone: its fame among climbers is international.
What to see
The shape is regular and the mountain has two sides: the southern one, over the Piani Resinelli basin and Lecco, and the northern one, less developed, which joins the Grignone. Two well-defined ridges separate them, the Segantini ridge to the west and the Sinigaglia ridge to the east. The rock is limestone of marine origin and contains fossils.
Towers, monoliths, spires and pinnacles have made it a favourite training ground of climbers such as Emilio Comici, Riccardo Cassin and Walter Bonatti, who opened routes now regarded as classics. Among the best-known rock structures Wikipedia lists the Magnaghi towers, the Sigaro Dones, the Ago Teresita, the Guglia Angelina and the Casati pyramid.
From the summit the view opens mainly over the Po Plain and is closed to the north by the bulk of the Grignone. On top stands the Ferrario bivouac, a small metal structure that is always open. The Grigna stream rises from the Canalone Porta, flows south, joins the Gerenzone and reaches Lecco. The mountain is also the “sentinel” of the mountain song La leggenda della Grigna.
Getting there
According to Wikipedia the normal route is the Cermenati ridge, which starts from the Piani Resinelli and has a few elementary rock passages: it is the only route of hiking difficulty, the others are for experienced hikers (EE). Other ascents listed: path 7 from the Carlo Porta hut (6.5 km and 850 metres of ascent), the Cecilia path from the Rosalba hut (with chain-equipped sections), the Segantini ridge from the Valsecchi saddle (grade III) and the high traverse towards the Grignone. We did not find up-to-date times, ascents and difficulty grades on an official source: before setting out it is best to check with the CAI (Italian Alpine Club) and to look up trail conditions and the weather.
Practical information
- Height: 2,177 metres (Wikipedia, Wikidata and OpenStreetMap); some sources give 2,184.
- The Ferrario bivouac on the summit is described as always open (Wikipedia, not verified on a CAI source).
- Starting and support points named by the sources: Piani Resinelli, Carlo Porta hut, Rosalba hut.