Flambeau

Immediately to north of the Mountain "Doravidi" (3.432m) the "Flambeau" (3.315m), between the Valgrisenche Valley and the La Thuile Valley is a not very busy mountain, offers however a' excellent panorama on the Large Assaly and on the Coastal Paramont/Rutor.

 

Subito a nord del Monte Doravidi (3.432 m) il Flambeau (3.315 m), tra la Valgrisenche e La Valle di La Thuile è una montagna non molto conosciuta, offre però un'eccellente panorama sulla Grande Assaly e sulla Costiera Paramont/Rutor.

First Ascents

• First on the summit S Arête: Abbè Chanoux and L. Vaccarone, (1879).
• N Slope: Abbè Chanoux and L. Vaccarone, (1879), in descent.
• In winter: Unknown.

Getting There

BY CAR:

• From the Morgex exit of Motorway A5 (921m), continue for about 3 km on Strada Statale n°26 Towards Pré Saint Didier (1.017m). SS.26 becomes the main street of the small city and then continues toward Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo (2.188m). After several hairpins, and past the Villages of Elevaz (1.302m) and la Balme (1.309m) reach the famous ski resort of La Thuile (1.441m). Turn left on the bridge that crosses Dora di La Thuile in the direction of the Village of La Joux. After about 2 km from the bridge, having past a large square, cross another bridge on the Dora to the right. (From this point on, the road, although paved, is quite narrow. Proceed with caution.) After 1 km get to La Joux (1.607m) and park in one of the two parking lots, which are large but sometimes fill up in August. For this reason, access past the second bridge is limited at certain times. Be there before 9 AM to avoid problems, or take the shuttle bus to cover the last stretch.

• Dall'uscita dell'Autostrada A5 nel Comune di Morgex (921 m) proseguire per circa 3 km lungo la Strada Statale n°26 verso il Paese di Pré Saint Didier (1.017 m), addentrarsi nella via centrale del paese e proseguire sempre lungo la Strada Statale n° 26 che porta al Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo (2.188 m). Dopo numerosi tornanti e, superate le Frazioni di Elevaz (1.302 m) e la Balme (1.309 m), si giunge alla famosa località sciistica di La Thuile (1.441 m); svoltare a destra sul ponte che attraversa la Dora di La Thuile e dirigersi verso la Frazione di La Joux (1.607 m). Dopo circa 2 km e, superato un ampio piazzale, riattraversare sempre sulla destra un altro ponte sulla Dora (attenzione da questo punto la strada, seppur asfaltata, è molto stretta, procedere con cautela) e dopo circa 1 km. si giunge a La Joux (1.607 m). Qui posteggiare l'auto in uno dei due ampi parcheggi a volte insufficienti nel mese di agosto. Per questo motivo, relativamente al tratto dopo il secondo ponte, c'è una limitazione oraria all'accesso dei mezzi privati, che comunque non tocca chi arriva prima delle 9. In alternativa esiste comunque una navetta bus.

BY PLANE:

• Aeroporto "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe (Aosta).

Route

First day The ascent for Rifugio A. Deffeyes starts in front of "Bar Delle Cascate" on trail n° 3. Pass a wooden bridge on the left and after about 15 minutes you'll come to the first of the three spectacular Rutor Falls. Continue along the trail and leave Alpeggio di Parchet (1.772m) to your right. The trail continues up large steps and in a bit less than one hour passes by the second waterfall, which is not visible from the trail, but is marked by a sign. After another 15 minutes you'll reach the sign for the the third waterfall. Continue on the steep trail for another 20 minutes to a fork. Take the well-marked left branch that leads to the hut. (The right branch, numbered 8, leads to the beautiful Lakes of Bella Comba.) Climb to the Small Pass (2.130m) and then descend bending slightly to the right until Lago Glacier (2.143m). Cross the small wooden bridge over the lake outlet and, leaving Alpeggio Glacier to your right, climb steeply along wide hairpins to the plateau where Rifugio A. Deffeyes is located at 2.494m This is a good place to spend the night (2h'45/3h'00 from La Joux).

 

 

Second Day Descend for about 50 meters the trail for the inlet stream of Lago Azzurro. Cross the small wooden bridge and keep the right trail that leads to the Upper Rutor Lakes (2.539m). After about 10 minutes the trail forks. Keep left and reach shorlty after a small lake known by the names of "Dans la Roche" or "Lac Sans Nom" (2.602m). Continue up to a small col at approximately 2.680m and on to the left moraine of the huge Rutor Glacier. (Here at 2.790m you'll find fixed ropes that have been recently placed after the moraine slid on the glacier. Descent along the same route. To continue the long ascent the small valloncello that carries to the Hill of Planaval (3.016m), to a hundred meters from the hill to turn verse south and to go back lieutenant himself to the center the small glacier of the Flambeau, therefore for a detrital slope and often snow-covered it it is reached the top (2h'30/3h'00) from the Shelter Deffeyes. Coming down is along the same route.