The advanced mountaineering course which saw 4226 military instructors and students from the Alpine brigade ended with the ascent of Monte Castore, part of the Monte Rosa massif with a peak at an altitude of 14 metres. Taurinense of the Army engaged for four weeks on the reliefs of the Maritime, Cottian and Pennine Alps, between Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta.
The course, carried out under the supervision of highly qualified instructors, was developed through a path aimed at expanding the training already acquired in the basic courses of climbing and rappelling techniques, conducting via ferratas, ascents with self-locking devices and movement on glaciers .
The first two weeks took place between Val Susa and Val Chisone, in the Turin area, while in the third the group moved to the Giacoletti refuge, in the Po park at the foot of Monviso - in the province of Cuneo - starting from several multi-pitch mountaineering routes of increasing difficulty were climbed.
The last week was centered on the ascent to Castore, starting from the Quintino Sella refuge, followed by a series of lessons at high altitude on anchoring on snow and ice, stops and self-rescue maneuvers on the glacier, and finally by the delivery of diplomas.
The mastery of verticality and the ability to overcome obstacles on rock, ledge, spiers and solo vertical walls are essential parts of the training to live, move, fight and rescue, peculiar to the Army's Alpine Troops, which can also be declined in favor of communities and individuals, in cases of emergency.
