Getting There
BY CAR:
- From TORINO, MILANO, etc: Motorway A5. Exit at IVREA or Quincinetto (PIEDMONT) From IVREA Town: in West (Southern side) to Pont Saint Martin, Verrès Municipalities in East from Aosta Town. From Courmayeur Resort: in East-southeast to Aosta, Nus, Chatillon, Saint Vincent, Verrès Municipalities.
- From Verrès to Val d'Ayas Valley From Verrès (549m), with Regional Road, to Challant Saint Victor (765m), Challant Saint Anselme (1.060m), Brusson (1.332m) Municipalities; wanting, continuing to Northwest to Antagnod-Ayas (1.709m) Commune, below Mounts Tantané and Zerbion also in North towards Champoluc (1.570m) and Saint Jacques(1.670m) Communes at the end of Evançon or Ayas Valley and under the Western side of Monte Rosa (Rollin Hump, Breithorns, Pollux and Castor).
- From FRANCE: through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Entrèves/Courmayeur. By Little Saint Bernard Pass, closed since November until half May to La Thuile Valley - Pré Saint Didier - Aosta - Verrès Municipalities. It is not necessary to take Motorway A5: you can drive on SS.26, in the direction of AOSTA - IVREA - TURIN.
BY PLANE:
- Aeroporto "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe (Aosta).
Summits & Hills
As mentioned above, this is a rather limited and confined to watershed with the Ayas Valley to the East and then sloping Westward via a small divide, for separating this basin by the Frudiera. The same low-medium altitude runs out, after the Pointe de la Garde, above the Pastures of Charbonnière
(1.613m), Collet
(1.652m), Restol
(1.682m), Pichiou
(1.689m), Champ Charlec
(1.766m) at the end of the private dirt farms road that goes from the Village of Graines
(1.383/1.396m); but these, though belonging to the same small topographically buttress, are all now included in the Frudiera Walloon and utilize the waters of the two Torrents de Graine and Reine. On the opposite side, or Estoul, opens it wide and deep verdant basin, located between the Alpages Fenêtre and Blanche, which gives rise to the second of the two small streams, starting just below the Ranzola Hill. From this, the spot also called with the name Walser Arescoll place between the Summit South-southeast of Mont Ciosé and the Pointe de la Regina, we encounter a wide and easy to West saddle that allows the smooth transition in the Frudière; the same precedes the Punta de la Garda, last elevation with a minimum relief before the buttress above. Proceeding to the South instead and immediately after the Punta della Regina meet the Col de la Garda, already outside of this area, but intimately connected with the same by means of a diagonal path that, after a tiny pond, from the top of the small Walloon Gombetta in the Lys Valley connects it to the Colle della Ranzola. It is a very scenic area and very suitable for hiking, which allows simultaneous visit the Valleys of Ayas and Brusson above that of Lys immediately to the Southwest of Municipality Gressoney Saint Jean. We purposely still tie this area to Mont Ciosé or Chose even in Walser language Stallerhorn also Horn of the resort below to the Northeast Staller Alpage
(2.020m) and above the renowned Savoy Castle in Southwest, the both into the Lys Valley) because, at least for its Southern Summit, hence this stems off the field that defines the wide Basin Estoul.
Come già suddetto, é questa zona piuttosto limitata e circoscritta al divisorio con la Val d'Ayas ad Oriente per poi digradare verso Occidente tramite un piccolo spartiacque, atto a separare la Conca d'Estoul dal Vallone di Frudiera. Lo stesso di bassa-media altitudine s'esaurisce, dopo la Pointe de la Garde, sopra gli Alpeggi di Charbonnière (1.613 m), Collet (1.652 m), Restol (1.682 m), Pichiou (1.689 m), Champ Charlec (1.766 m) al termine della strada poderale risalente dal Villaggio di Graines (1.383/1.396 m); ma questi, pur appartenendo topograficamento al medesimo minuscolo contrafforte, son tutti ormai inseriti nel Vallone di Frudiera ed utilizzano le acque dei due Torrents de Graine e Reine. Sul lato opposto, ovvero Estoul, s'apre l'ampio e verdeggiante bacino, posto tra le Alpi Fenêtre e Blanche, originante il secondo dei due torrenti, partendo appena al di sotto del Colle della Ranzola. Da questo, in loco chiamato anche col toponimo Walser Arescoll e posto tra la Sommità Sud-sudest del Mont Ciosé e la Pointe de la Regina, incontriamo verso Ovest una larga e facile sella permettente l'agevole passaggio nel Vallone di Frudière; la stessa precede la Punta de la Garda, ultima elevazione con un minimo rilievo prima del contrafforte di cui sopra. Procedendo invece verso Sud e subito dopo la Punta della Regina incontriamo il Col de la Garda, ormai già al di fuori di quest'area, ma intimamente connesso con la medesima tramite un sentiero diagonale che, dopo un laghetto, da sopra il piccolo Vallone di Gombetta in Valle del Lys lo collega al Colle della Ranzola. Trattasi di zona molto panoramica ed alquanto adatta per l'Escursionismo, che permette simultaneamente di visitare la Valle di Ayas sopra Brusson e quella del Lys immediatamente a Sudovest di Gressoney Saint Jean. Abbiamo volutamente ancor legare questa zona al Mont Ciosé o Stallerhorn ovvero Corno di Staller dalla località sottostante a Nordest (2.020 m) e sopra il rinomato Castello Savoia in Val del Lys, poiché, almeno per la sua Sommità Meridionale, da qui prende origine questo largo settore delimitante la Conca d'Estoul.
A Summit which you want to go?
Estoul the choice is limited, but you can always try something new ... but doing good attention to the grassy slopes & snowslides. (For the approaches see "Where do we go fishing?" in "Estoul Basin First Part: Palasinaz Area /1" ... but the way is almost unique) 1) - Mont Ciosé or Chose also Stallenhorn South-southeastern Summit (2.647m). From Estoul with dirt farms road in East towards Fenilliettaz small Village (1.840m), fork 1.850 meters to Upper Fenillettaz and Fontaine Pastures, cross to Moucheroulaz Alpage (1.871m; signal no transit), Murassaz (1.883m), Praz Barmasse Désott Pastures (1.928m; signal no transit to Ranzola Hill), Alp Fenêtre (2.057m, 2.083m) to Ranzola Hill also Arescoll (2.171m). Continue by the South-southeast Crest; climbing, through rotten and broken rocks with grassy, just on left and below the thread of ridge to Quotes 2.473m, 2.559m; 2.621m. Get off ten meters to one notch (I+°/II°-; a short passage delicate and very exposed in the presence of ice) and continue on the ridge with easy climbing sections and walkable; bypassed a final roughness 2.629 meters, in drinking to reach the Southern Top. (2.647m; EE/A/PD-; 1h'20/1h'35 from Ranzola Hill; 3h'30/4h'00 from Estoul parking; 6h'00/7h'00 round/trip always Estoul).
2) - Ranzola Hill or Arescoll (2.171m). From Estoul with dirt farms road in East towards Fenilliettaz small Village (1.840m), alternative 1.850 meters to Upper Fenillettaz Village and Fontaine Pasture, cross to Moucheroulaz Alpage (1.871m; signal no transit), Murassaz (1.883m), Praz Barmasse Désott Pastures (1.928m; signal no transit towards Ranzola Hill), Alp Fenêtre (2.057m, 2.083m) to nearby pass (2.171m; T; 1h'00/1h'15).
3) - Pointe de la Regina o Punta di Gombetta (+; 2.387m). From Ranzola Hill through a small path and traces on North Crest easily to Summit (E/F; 0h'30/0h'40). From the Summit ability to easily get off the Hill to the South on Southeast Garda or Gombetta Pass in a short time and to the West, with a little more than caution, to below large Saddle 2.163 meters or Garda Northwest Hill (E/F/; 0h'20; EE/F+; 0h'30).
4) - Garda West-northwestern Hill or Saddle (2.163/6m). From Fenêtre Alp (2.083m) through the path n° 9A before in Southeast, after South to large saddle, between Punta della Regina and Punta de la Garda. Variant: from Arescoll through the unnumbered path in Southwest to junction with previous route neighbor the upper part of Reine Torrent (T/E/F; 0h'30/0h'40 from the both or 1h'15/1h'30 from the parking of Resort).
5) - Pointe de la Garda (2.332m). From the large saddle (2.163m) or Northwestern Garda Pass through a small path or traces in West, immediately under the thread of short and easy East-northeast Crest (E; 0h'20 from the saddle; 1h'30/1h'45 from Fenêtre Alp or Ranzola Hill). Annotation and advice: you can reach the Punta de la Garda also down from the Punta della Regina; in this case it falls away below the saddle to the West by a short ridge which then becomes a wider and steep grassy slope with scattered trees. It is an easy run but that requires attention, especially if it is made with fresh snow. To do this small crossing must have some experience of how to Hiking in the mountains; in each case is to be avoided with the snow for what it is best to return via the North Ridge to the Ranzola Hill to eventually cross to the Southwest on North Slopes.
6) - Garda East-southeastern Hill also Gombetta Pass (2.268m). From Arescoll with easy descent crossing in Southeast to point 2.145 meters; from this with Southwestern direction to mini pond 2.186 meters and Hill (E/F; 1h'00/1h'10 from Ranzola Hill; 2h'30/3h'00 Estoul).
A brief review
So, to conclude, we have a more Western area which, starting from Lake Bringuez, comes to the Lakes of Freida, or from watershed ridge that rises to the Horn Bussola and from there to the Punta Valfredda above the Refuge de l'Arp; another central that overlooks the Village of Estoul with its two lakes below the Tip Valnera, which is limited to its Southeast end of the small Chain of the three Mont Ciosé or Stallenhorn and, finally, the last between the South Summit and more the next dry-docking that is directed towards the Walloon of Frudiera with its two lakes dominated by dark pyramid of Mont Néry or Becca Frudiera. A very large area that, in my opinion, requires more than one visit. Even in this respect the "parties lower", worthy of a more in-depth knowledge from the point of view of History and Culture. With the aim of better understanding the "Life Alpestre" of these populations and their long and often misunderstood history, which connects directly with that of Walser into the nearby Valleys Tornanche and Lys or Gressoney. Beyond these considerations, there remains the joy of trips in a healthy environment, free and not overly busy, so as to allow even a good relationship with Nature. A "cocktail" today is not always easy to find, where the mountain is becoming increasingly crowded and cancels the one that is the search for escape from the great cities. However, we would like to give a little advice to beginners: start with an easy visit from the two diametrically opposite points, or to the beautiful West Lake Bringuez, under the Horn Bussola, and East to the Colle della Ranzola between Mont Ciosé/Pointe de la Regina. Then from this point you can go where you want because you have become "masters" of the entire area.
Quindi, e per concludere, abbiamo un settore più Occidentale che, partendo dal Lago di Bringuez, arriva ai Laghi di Freide, ovvero dalla cresta spartiacque che sale al Corno Bussola e da questa alla Punta di Valfredda sopra il Rifugio de l'Arp; un altro centrale sovrastante il Villaggio d'Estoul coi suoi due laghi sottostanti la Punta di Valnera, che viene limitato alla sua estremità Sudorientale dalla piccola Catena dei tre Mont Ciosé o Stallenhorn ed, infine, l'ultimo compreso tra la Sommità più Meridionale ed il bacino successivo indirizzantesi verso il Vallone di Frudiera con i suoi due laghi dominati dalla scura piramide del Mont Néry o Becca di Frudiera. Un comprensorio molto esteso che, a mio avviso, richiede più d'una visita. Anche al riguardo delle parti "più basse", meritevoli d'una più approfondita conoscenza dal punto di vista Storico e Culturale. Con la finalità di meglio appropriarsi della "Vita Alpestre" di queste popolazioni e della loro lunga e spesso misconosciuta storia, connettentesi direttamente con quella dei Walser delle vicine Valli Tornanche e del Lys o Gressoney. Al di là di queste considerazioni, rimane la gioia di gite in ambiente sano, libero e non eccessivamente frequentato, tal da concedere ancora un buon rapporto con la Natura. Un "cocktail" oggi non sempre facile da trovare, ove la montagna risulta sempre più affollata ed annulla quella che é la ricerca d'evasione dalla grande città. Comunque ci permettiamo di dare un piccolo consiglio ai meno esperti: iniziare con una facile visita partendo dai due punti diametralmente opposti, ovvero ad Ovest al bel Lago di Bringuez, sotto il Corno Bussola, ed a Est al Colle della Ranzola. Poi sin d'ora potrete andar ove vogliate, poiché siete diventati "padroni" di tutta l'area.
But even this small and fragile ridge that descends from Punta Regina, who had the honor of being uphill from Queen Margherita of Italy August 10th, 1898, reaching the bastion of Punta Garda us into the next Walloon of Frudiera dominated by Mont Nery or Becca Frudiera. This appears to be the highest Summit (3.075m), in the long watershed between the Valleys of Ayas or Torrent Evançon and Lys or known as Champoluc and even, better, as the Gressoney Valley. In fact, after the Testa Grigia (Gray Head) or Grauhaup and also in Walser language Grob Hont, Groabhopt (3.214m), located between Champoluc (1.568m), Gressoney-la-Trinité (1.624m), this is the highest elevation that rises going down to the Central Valley of the Dora Baltea, not even fearing the competition of the two successive Becca of Vlou, Torché or "Dames de Challand". But back for a moment back on the Punta Regina (once called Top Gombetta before being "displaced and deposed" by Queen Margherita) on this short stretch of ridge opens, a real "front door", the wide Saddle 2.163 meters connects the Alps Fenêtre (2.083m) and Blanche (2.036m) under the Ranzola Hill with those of the Garda (2.072m) and Frudière (1.849m) and his two namesakes lakes generated by Nery and Marienhorn. This was and remains the only link between the Estoul Basin and the adjacent Frudiera, indicating that mountains unite the peoples and their valleys more than divide them. Now our eyes, going up these small Summits, is already projected on the Walloon of Frudiera at the foot of the gloomy and dark Mont Nery, almost stubbornly bleak. Another Little World opens up for then shut themselves up again ...
Ma già questa piccola e fragile cresta discendente dalla Punta Regina, che ha avuto l'onore d'esser salita dalla Regina d'Italia Margherita il 10 Agosto 1898, raggiungendo lo spalto della Punta Garda ci introduce nel successivo Vallone di Frudiera dominato dal Mont Nery o Becca di Frudiera. Questa risulta come la più alta Sommità (3.075 m), nel lungo spartiacque tra le Valli di Ayas o del Torrente Evançon e del Lys o conosciuta come di Champoluc ed ancora, meglio, come Valle di Gressoney. Infatti, dopo la Testa Grigia o Grauhaup ed anche Grob Hont (3.214 m), situata tra Champoluc (1.568 m) e Gressoney-la-Trinité (1.624 m), questa é la più alta elevazione che s'innalza scendendo fino alla Valle Centrale della Dora Baltea e non temendo neppure la concorrenza delle due successive "Dames de Challand". Ma ritornando per un attimo indietro sopra la Punta Regina (una volta era chiamata Punta di Gombetta prima d'esser "spodestata e desautorata" dalla Regina Margherita) su questo breve tratto di cresta s'apre, vera "porta d'ingresso", la larga Sella 2.163 metri collegante le Alpi di Fenêtre (2.083 m) e Blanche (2.036 m), sotto il Colle della Ranzola, con quelle de la Garda (2.072 m) e di Frudière (1.849 m) ed i suoi due omonimi laghi generati dal Nery e dal Marienhorn. Questo era e rimane l'unico collegamento tra il Bacino di Estoul e quello attiguo di Frudiera, a testimonianza che le montagne uniscano i Popoli e le loro vallate più di quanto le dividano. Ormai il nostro occhio, salendo queste piccole Sommità, é già proiettato sul Vallone di Frudiera, ai piedi del tetro, scuro Mont Nery, quasi ostinatamente desolato. Un altro Piccolo Mondo si dischiude per poi rinchiudersi nuovamente ...
Campings
Remember that free camping is forbidden (except for emergency reasons, over
2.500m, from darkness until dawn).
Mountain Conditions
- You can get meteo information at the official site of the Regione Valle d'Aosta:
- Valle d'Aosta Meteo
- Meteo: You can find more weather information on the website 3B Meteo:
- Meteo Brusson
Books and Maps
BOOKS:
- "Guida delle Alpi Occidentali" di Giovanni Bobba e Luigi Vaccarone C.A.I. Sezione di Torino Volume II (parte II), 25 Maggio 1896.
- "Guida dei Monti d'Italia" Alpi Pennine (Vol. 2) di Gino Buscaini - Club Alpino Italiano/Turing Club Italiano, Luglio 1970 (In Italian).
MAPS:
- I.G.C. Istituto Geografico Centrale Torino "IVREA-BIELLA e Bassa Valle d'Aosta" 1:50.000.
- I.G.C. Istituto Geografico Centrale Torino "Cervino e Monte Rosa" 1:50.000.
- L'Escursionista editore "Alte Valli d'Ayas e del Lys" Carta dei sentieri (8) 1:25.000.
Important Information
Useful numbers
- Protezione Civile Valdostana località Aeroporto n° 7/A Saint Christophe (Ao) Tel. 0165-238222.
- Bollettino Meteo (weather info) Tel. 0165-44113.
- Unità Operativa di Soccorso Sanitario Tel. 118.