High Route 1 — Stage 4: Rifugio Barma → Niel

From the Barma Lakes basin, stage four begins with a brief high-altitude stretch before committing to a long descent toward Niel, a Walser hamlet in the municipality of Gaby. The path crosses Col della Vecchia — a smooth rocky ridge marked by a small stone pyramid indicating the border with Piedmont — then drops into a sparse conifer forest where the gradient steepens and the sound of a lateral stream escorts walkers downhill. Niel is a hidden gem: a handful of stone and larch Walser houses, some dating back centuries, clinging to the slope above the Gaby valley floor. La Gruba Relais, the stage's official endpoint, is a small hotel converted from a restored barn offering the most authentic rural hospitality on the entire route. From Gaby a regional bus descends to the main valley, providing an exit option for those who need to interrupt the Alta Via. The stage is short relative to others, but sustained descent demands well-gripping footwear and mindful attention to the knees.

Along the route: from Rifugio Barma (2191 m), the path passes Col della Vecchia (2280 m) — High point, stone pyramid on the Piedmont border, to Niel (1388 m). Along the way you reach the Barma refuge, a useful base. The skyline is dominated by Mont Mars (2600 m), Mont Nery (3075 m).