“Every day that passes, I fall more desperately in love with the mountains… I am ever more determined to climb the mountains, to scale the mighty peaks, to feel that pure joy which can only be felt in the mountains.”
—Pier Giorgio FrassatiThis summer, join COR Expeditions and Altum L’alto Pilgrimages in Italy on a one of a kind mountain climbing experience in the spirit of Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Discover a man & saint whose heart and spirituality was formed by his experiences in the alpine, and let your heart be renewed while climbing the same rock that he touched, standing on the same summits that he reached, and praying in the same churches where he knelt.
This trip is an incredibly unique combination of challenging outdoor experiences and profound spiritual pilgrimage. This mountain climbing trip is guided by COR Expeditions and will include mountaineering on the high alpine peaks that Frassati called home, as well as visits to religious and historic sites from his life in and around Turin and Pollone.
Highlights of the mountaineering course include:
4 days of mountaineering on Via Ferrata (“iron path”/cables) routes up beautiful and technical peaks that Frassati climbed, weather permitting. Possible peaks include Monte Pirchiriano (936 meters), Monte Mucrone (2335 m), Pointe des Neyzets (2736 m), and Monte Cheberton (3131 m), and others in the Turin area.
Tours of Frassati’s childhood home and stomping grounds in and around Pollone and Turin.
Visit Frassati’s tomb, the Shroud of Turin (if open to the public), the Sanctuary of Oropa, Sacra San Michele which is an ancient 10th century monastery, and other sacred sites.
We have a chaplain who will join us for the entire course, climbing with us and providing daily Mass in town or on the mountains, as well as opportunities for Confession, Adoration, fellowship, and more.
Mountaineering Trip Itinerary
August 15th: Fly into Milan, Italy. COR will meet participants at the Milan airport. After registration, participants will be prompted by COR on arrival time and booking flights.
August 16th - 21st: Each of these days will be a new adventure. Participants will experience intense physical mountaineering using a Via Ferrata, touring the villages, and time in community with other participants and Christ.
August 22nd: Fly out of Milan, Italy. COR will take participants to the Milan airport. After registration, participants will be prompted by COR on departure time and booking flights.
Cost and Trip Options
August 15 - 22, 2026
$3,000 per person + Airfare to and from Milan, Italy until January 31, 2026.
February 1st, 2026 the price increases to $3,200 + Airfare to and from Milan, Italy.
This is an all-inclusive trip (excluding flights to Milan, Italy). To learn more about what is included, see the FAQ section below. COR accepts scholarship applications for this course.
What is a Via Ferrata?
This will be a physically demanding trip and involves climbing technical peaks with high exposure (steep cliffs and ridge lines hundreds of feet in the air). Utilizing the Via Ferrata mountain climbing system makes this trip accessible to participants who do not have prior mountaineering or rock climbing experience. A Via Ferrata is a system of cables anchored into mountain cliffs that climbers can attach themselves to at all times, reducing the risk of a fall. These systems, while not often found in the US, are widely used across Europe in place of traditional rock climbing which uses ropes and other technical equipment. A huge advantage is that this system allows for the entire group to move together and avoid wait times since there is no belaying on ropes. It also allows a complete novice the ability to climb more technical routes. COR will provide training and instruction on how to use the equipment correctly (climbing helmets, harnesses, via ferrata lanyards, and hiking shoes/boots, rock climbing shoes are not needed) and COR staff will guide and instruct the group throughout each climb. Rock climbing skills are not required since steeper areas of the climbs have ladders to utilize. While the system prevents much of the risk associated with climbing technical peaks, participants do need to be strong & athletic hikers so that the group can move together efficiently.Participants also need to follow the system protocols and guide instructions to minimize risk. Click here for more information on the Via Ferrata system and photos!
Note: Here is a video found on Youtube to give an example of a Via Ferrata on one of the mountains we plan to climb. The video is not our own but the visuals do show what to expect on our climb.
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Who can come?
Participants must be at least 18 and no older than 40. Participants will need to be physically fit and able to participate in long days of continued physical activity.
What experience is needed?
While prior mountaineering or rock climbing experience is not necessary, participants must be able to hike long distances efficiently and be familiar with and physically able to do challenging hikes. While some fear of heights is normal & healthy, participants must be comfortable with heights when they are tied into the Via Ferrata or other rope systems. While you are clipped into a cable at all times, you will be climbing for hundreds of feet at a time (difficult sections of the climb have metal ladder rungs so while it will not be difficult climbing with small hand holds and such, it can be tiring) and the routes are very exposed, this means when you look down you feel as if you are hundreds of feet off the ground. COR will provide an athletic training plan to help individuals prepare for the course.
What is provided in the course fee?
This is an all-inclusive trip (other than flights to Milan, Italy). Covered expenses include: transportation from the Milan airport and throughout the trip, lodging, all meals during the trip, all pilgrim venue/museum/vendor fees, professional mountain guides from COR and ALP, and mountaineering equipment for Via Ferratas (helmet, harness, lanyard system). You will need to provide your own hiking shoes/boots and outdoor clothing and daypack. A gear list will be provided. Alcohol served at meals is not covered in this trip cost.
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Due to the strenuous nature of the trip, COR asks each participant to commit to a moderate workout plan or similar physical activity for at least 6-8 weeks before the trip. Our suggested workout plan is linked in our registration documents. Prior physical preparedness is necessary for each participant and the group to take full advantage of the adventures on this course!
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COR uses UltraCamp as a registration platform. Participants will need to create an account or use their existing account. Once an account is created participants will be able to register and pay the deposit. COR will require a $640 nonrefundable deposit. Payment plans are available. Please do not purchase airfare until prompted by COR.
While no prior mountaineering or rock climbing experience is needed, we do want to ensure that all participants know what to expect on the course and are properly prepared, informed and excited for the activities. COR will provide more information after registration by offering an informational video call in late April or early May.
Have questions? Contact us.
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Course Itinerary
The course starts August 15th, 2026 in Milan, Italy with pickup at the airport and ends on August 22nd with an airport drop off. Please wait to hear from COR for an arrival and departure time. COR will notify participants after they are registered.
The cost due to COR is $3,200 per individual. A nonrefundable $640 deposit is due when participants register. COR accepts scholarship applications for this course.
