Happy New Year to all. Myself and a friend what to go and experience the Stella this year. Can Anyone help us with dates/campsite info please? Thanks. John and Cookie

As far as I know it's always on the 1st weekend in July at Bardonecchia. Don't know about camp sites as we travelled along the Assietta ridge and camped out wild.

Hans

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Hi Hans,
Thanks for your post. Have dug further since posting and I got the impression it was always 2nd Sunday In July? However, still on the trail of camp site info.
John

Try this:-

Stella Alpina Annual Motorcycle Rally

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Dave

Thanks Dave.
Any one know of any further info on this years "happening"?
John

Well, well.... I suppose you'll have to stay for a whole week, John ;-) Mind you, the area is beautiful enough to keep you busy for a week.

Hans

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Only when we pause to wonder
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Couple of camping options here: Campeggi Bardonecchia - Camping Bardonecchia - Villaggi Bardonecchia

Just ask in the town when you get there.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Thanks John,
What is the situation regarding rough/wild camping?

Last time I was there and its been at least 10 years, I stayed in a cheap B&B. There was not a lot of spare room or accomodation. That was in the days when the Italians would trailer their pure dirt bikes there and rip the track to pieces and shower you in gravel as they blasted past.

Think thats all changed now though and reverted back to the original idea... somewhere to go up a mountain that should be possible on your road bike.

Have a good one. The place buzzes.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Apparently the date has been moved for 2008 because of another rally taking place in that region.

Here's the link Storiche
and here's the date: Cambio di data per la Stella Alpina

A seguito dello spostamento del Rally di San Martino di Castrozza in data 11 e 12 luglio, gli organizzatori della Stella Alpina di regolarità - come annunciato nell’ultimo comunicato - si sono visti costretti, per problematiche legate al numero di ufficiali di gara e cronometristi impegnati nei due eventi, ad anticipare di una settimana la loro gara di auto storiche. Pertanto la Stella Alpina 2008 si svolgerà dal 4 al 6 luglio 2008. (2 dic.)

Hasta luego.

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

So, which month is "luglio"?
(There could be a few disappointed people if that information does not get circulated well).

Studying a calendar, it has to be July? (= the first weekend in that month, as "forecast" by Vaufi)

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Dave

On the dot. The Stella Alpina is always in July and NORMALLY the second weekend. But 2008 on the 4th - 6th.

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Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Hi. You're right, it's usually the 2nd weekend in July....not sure of this years date though. The whole event is somewhat in doubt due to the local government clamping down on motorised vehicles using the majority of the dirt roads out there.

In Autumn last year the Col du Somellier underwent a process of widening and flattening, apparently making it now not entirely challenging. Many of the hairpins were effectively removed and it's seemingly now possible to drive a car most of the way up.

They've also raised a barrier well below the summit after which there's no access for vehicles permitted at all. In the early stages, motorised vehicles were only permitted on the route between monday and thursday, though I'm not sure if this still stands.

ALL THAT ASIDE....it's still a fantastic and amazingly scenic ride, it's just not perhaps the personal challenge that it once was. However, I'd still go back and do it again anyday.

You can camp at "Base Camp" about 1/3 of the way up the mountain, though you need to take everything up there that you're going to need. There are no facilities at all (sparing a lovely waterfall/shower!) and it's a looong bumpy ride back down to Bardo if you run out of s!

There is (or was at least) free camping available in Bardo itself, but again no facilities. You do get use of the municipal sports centre though for toilets and showers. Or you've got Bokki camping. This to be honest was a bit crap. Bikers are put in a separate field and it's a fair trek to the loos/showers/bar...it's also expensive and a good 3 or 4 mile hike back into town.

For me, I'd stay at the free camping in town.

Have just had info via a friend of mine who has contact with Mario (chap responsible for the Stella) that as far as he is concerned the event is on the 2nd Sunday of July as normal.

john,
"stella alpina" is always 2nd weekend in july.
there is a free basic campsite at the refugio scarfiotti halfway up to the colle sommeiller.
other campsites are further down in the valley for example camping gran bosco in salbertrand.

for a report about last year's stella you might enjoy Picasa-Webalben - helmut - stella alpina...

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