Description of the route

Altitude: 2,910 m
Location: Eastern Edge of the Herbetet
Sleeping places: 12
Open: always open
Difficulty: EE
Trail sign: 22, 22G
Ascent: 4h35 from Valnontey
Coordinates UTM-WGS84: EAST 367199
Coordinates UTM-WGS84: NORTH 5045254

The bivouac is inaugurated in 1962 to the memory of Lionello Leonessa who died on the southern face of Castore in 1959. The bivouac is also dedicated to his brother Lucio, who died in 1963 on the eastern ridge of Herbetet.

Access:
Leave the car at Valnontey, in the municipality of Cogne, then take the dirt road (itinerary no. 22) that runs alongside the Valnontey stream to its end.
From here, continue along path 22. After around 500 m, ignore trail 22C on the left, which heads to Money Bivouac and continue along the same road taking the valley bed on the river banks.
This leads you to a junction: route 22G continues on the right for Leonessa Bivouac, while the trails that go off to the left leads to the bivouacs Borghi and Martinotti.
Go up the mule track to reach Herbetet, where you will find a park guard’s lodge.
Continue along the trail to the left, ignoring route 18B on the right, and go into the valley of Herbetet until you come to the Leonessa bivouac.

Equipment: blankets and mattresses.