In reply to siisu:
Mt. Chaberton is a very popular hike, particularly for us Turin bunch, as it allows to got to a 3130m summit with just a 60 minute drive (and a 3 hours walk). And there’s the added treat of the big fortress on the summit, that was the setup of a dramatic episode of WWII, the “battle for Mt. Chaberton”
There are basically two ways to go to the summit from Claviere (plus another one – easier but way longer - from Fenils, on the opposite side of the mountain. The most popular is via Claviere – Rio Secco -> Ricovero delle Sette Fontane -> Col di Chaberton -> Mt. Chaberton, thus via the N ridge. It’s just a walk, with no technical difficulty whatsoever. On the north ridge you’ll follow the remains of the ancient military road, so you’ll just have to put one feet after the other. Allow for 3 hours from Claviere. The height difference is 1300m.
The second way is more exciting, but definitely more difficult, as it follows a route that was equipped there few years ago. It’s quite technical, as you’ll have to climb passages up to UIAAA II, and is quite exposed in places, but is well equipped and way shorter than the “normal” route. You’ll need a rope and few slings/krabs for the last section. Here’s a complete visual description of this second route.
http://www.kaps.it/pagine/montagna/gite/val_susa/monte_chaberton_cresta/mon...
If you’re just there to walk and acclimatize, I would probably choose the first option.
To visit the inside of the summit fortress, you need an head torch, 10m of rope and a pair of light alloy crampons, as it’s often filled with ice. It’s quite an amazing place, so I suggest you take your time to visit it, but be careful, as it can be easy to slip here and there and get hut.
BTW, remember to take plenty of water – it’s a dry place.
