Mont Roux of St. Marcel

Going through the whole valley by Les Druges towards Mulàc and Grande Chaux Hunting Houses: from Les Druges "Low" (1567m) a last bend in the road asphalt leads to the "High", where shortly afterwards becomes paved farm road not more (signs in brown at the last house). From Les Druges "Alte" suddenly into the forest leads to the Picnic Area beyond which a short descent leads to the cartel prohibition for the cars just before the Pouria Pasture (1586m; no more than three cars). Continuing uphill the private dirt road reaches, with soft ascent, a grassy esplanade at the edge of the forest with to the North an ancient ruined alp and in South the construction known as "Garages" below the ruins of the "Trèves Furnace", just before the fork in the torrent (still many yellow signs up at the furnace in left and down at Viplana Village in right (1346m) with path n° 3). Continuing on the farm road to the West through a long diagonal leading to the location Vargney (1676m) at some dumps of ore burned. Take Southbound the small path n° 16/18 addressed to the Coppermine of Servette and then to Lavanche Pasture (2071m; suggestive way to transport the mineral with high stone walls and connecting with the Mines Praborna) and Crotey Dèsott Alp (2348m), under Mont Roux (2277m). Also starting from the small and last lay-by beyond the rocky-wooden dump of the above abandoned Coppermines Chuc-Servette, and after rounding the cape entering the real vallon. A short descent leads to the base of a small trickle of water (not drinking dirty because with the sour taste of soil and copper) with the foot a rocky escarpment that rushes to the Torrent de Saint Marcel. Keep going towards South flexing a little to the right (South-southwest) with beautiful views of the overlying dry stone walls and the stone buildings designed to house the miners. Pass a new short ascent with beautiful views of the Group of Rouèses and wild Vallon Arpisson. Another descent, after leaving to the left (East) deviation n° 16 for Servette, leading to the end of the same. After passing a small gate (signals of private property and border of the "Preserve of Grand Avert" by Marquis Turati of Turin ex Baron Giuseppe Antonio Beck Peckoz of Gressoney) and after a short descent bypassing Eteley Pasture (1750m) and abandoning Northwest the crossroads with path n° n° 4G towards the Alp Choulet and Arpisson Vallon, remount passing through Mulàc Hunting House (1937m; beautiful fountain with wooden steinbock) boarding on the right (Northwest) the ancient Manganesemine of Praz Bornaz also Prabor(g)na, reached from alternative 1836 metres through deviation not numbered and abandoned for years now (1882m; E/F; 2h'00/2h'30). This must be considered the Basic Itinerary from which branch all variants for Mines Servette and Praborna, they exclude the underlying Chuc Copperminne.

Specific and direct route: before making the descent to the waterfall, goes up, instead through the trail n° 16 above the dirt road, reaching the various upper mines amongst the renovating Miners Village. From these, however, you can also be reached through other paths of entry, continue with the path which now becomes exclusively n° 18. But abandon it when the same direction varies from Southeast to South in altitude of about 2050/60 metres and, without forced trail inside the thick forest, following a small dried torrent by 2059 to 2202 metres (caution for presence of wild boars!) to reach the small saddle 2260 metres around, from which join with the previous route through Fontanafredda, Bren, prapremier Pastures and by the Southern Crest from Alp Corquet (EE/F; 1h'30/2h'00 from the highest Coppermine of Servette; 2h'45/3h'15 in all).




Just before we must abandon the dirt road taking the path n° 16/18 towards Servette Coppermines,

by Osw 2015

Via B)- (Da Les Druges "Alte" transitando dalle Miniere di rame di Servette e Versante Occidentale)