, accessible from Highway n° 26 crossing the bridge over the Baltea Stream, just after the Country of Nus (output Motorways A5), arriving at the
, and immediately after the field of Football, leave the roundabout to the left on the same (large signals), and go up to the Chief Lieu. Following the
and, still leaving the Municipal Road to the East to Barche Hamlet and towards Clavalité's Vallon satisfy the
, a tarmac road dates back to the South, starting between the Villages of Le Perron
, and through road bends that door, through the woods, to the small Village of Le Boit-du Chat
and the subsequent of Champlan. After four more through the windings road nearby the Torrent Bioley and goes West towards the basin left its course, always with tight bends reaches The Pieiller-de-Sermaz
small Villages, with a last bend to the West toward the Morgettaz tiny Hamlet reach the junction, with small parking lot on the floor, for the little, old and semi-abandoned Village of
The carriage, which then continues over and again crosses the Bioley Torrent in altitude of
reaching the other side or Western, with a wide hemi circle first and then North-northwest to West-southwest, reach a subsequent junction just beyond the Village Champremier
, connecting to the Main Road leading up to Saint Marcel Municipality towards wide
in the upper area between these two communes. Please note that the path is formed by a narrow road with many windings, for which reason it is good thing to pay caution. This
also allows power to vary the same trip, and after the climb in Southeast towards Mont Saint Julien
modest sum payment (large parking in compress earth, various fountains near the
(from the nearby location of Furnace, now in ruins, the tops of which are accessed through marked trails and a General Map departure (Various mines entrances, Houses and the remains of the Miners of large Ropeways wood for the transport of Ore to the valley floor);
and lift the nearby Chapel of Saint Bernard, from this, depending on your choice , you can continue up to the summer Pastures of Fontanafredda or Fontanafreida
; semi ruined and abandoned), right on the border with Fénis Municipality.
Regarding the descent, in case of extension of the excursion to the Area of Druges, it is convenient from the junction of the road on the right Champremier abandon climbed and get off at
. From Plout also Plou continue to Réan, Mezéin (
, turn right for Fénis, but with ban), Jayer, Moulin small Hamlets towards St. Marcel (Ancient Castle in Paquier Fraction;
), and finally, passing under the Motorway and crossing the bridge over the Baltea near the ancient Foundry Copper
.
Combining it with the ascent of M. Saint Julien with St. Grat Shrine and Hermitage from Fénis through Pieiller small Valley,
Dal Paese di Fénis, raggiungibile dalla Strada Statale n° 26 attraversando il ponte in pietra sulla Dora Baltea, subito dopo il Paese di Nus (uscita Autostrada A5), arrivando al bivio 539 metri; subito dopo il campo di Calcio, lasciare a sinistra la rotonda sulla medesima (ampie segnalazioni), e salire verso il Capoluogo. Seguendo i cartelli in color marron "Saint Julien" e, lasciando ancora ad Est la strada Comunale per la Frazione Barche e la Clavalité, assecondare le indicazioni per il "Vallone del Pieiller"; una strada in asfalto risale verso Mezzogiorno, partendo tra le Frazioni di Le Perron (582 m) e Pommier (614 m), e tramite stretti tornanti si porta, in mezzo al bosco, al piccolo Villaggio di Le-Boit du Chat (695 m) ed al successivo di Champlan. Dopo altri quattro tornanti attraversa il Torrent Bioley e si porta ad Ovest verso il suo corso idrografico sinistro; sempre con stretti tornanti raggiunge il Villaggetto di Le Pieiller-de-Sermaz (1075 m) e successivamente quelli di Maison Longue (1112 m) e Le Plany (1174 m). Tramite un ultimo tornante ad Ovest verso il piccolo Villaggio della Morgettaz raggiunge il bivio, con ridotto parcheggio in terra, per il piccolo Villaggio semi abbandonato di Le Coteau (1234 m).
Annotazioni Varie
Descending on Main Road Les Druges Area to St. Marcel,
by emilius
La carrozzabile, che continua oltre attraversando nuovamente il Torrent de Bioley portandosi sull'altra sponda od Occidentale, con un largo giro dapprima a Nord-nordovest e quindi ad Ovest-sudovest, raggiunge un bivio appena oltre il Villaggio di Champremier
(1383 m), collegandosi alla Strada Comunale risalente da St. Marcel verso la
Conca delle Druges unendo così la
"viabilità" nella zona alta tra i due comuni. Da segnalare che il percorso é formato da numerosi tornanti a gomito, per cui é cosa buona prestar attenzione. Questa
Strada di Collegamento permette di poter variar la gita medesima e, dopo la salita al St. Julien
(1384m), ad esempio salire All'Area Pic Nic di Les Druges
(1570/80 metri circa), collocata all'interno d'una fitta splendida foresta appena prima di dirigersi all'ingresso del Vallone di St. Marcel, con
Varie Possibilità:
a)-: sostare alla medesima con modica cifra di pagamento (buon parcheggio, fontana, numerose
"isole" con panche e tavoli in legno, barbecue in pietra, servizi igienici);
b)-: visitare i
Siti delle Miniere di Rame e Ferro di Chuc-Servette con partenza dalla vicina Località di Fornace, ormai in rovina, alle parti superiori alle quali s'accede tramite sentieri segnalati ed una Mappa Generale alla partenza; sussistono ancora i vari imbocchi, Case dei Minatori e resti delle grandi Teleferiche in legno per il trasporto del Minerale;
c)-: da Les Druges Alte (1567 m) salire con il sentiero
n° 14 partendo alla fontana con attiguo splendido e piccolo squadrato
"Rascard" in legno e risalita alla vicina Cappelletta di San Bernardo; da questa, a secondo della vostra scelta, potete continuare fino a Fontanafredda o, in loco, Fontanafreida
(1800 metri circa), Bren
(1961 m) ed infine all'ultimo di
Prapremier o Praz-Premier (2010 m), proprio appena oltre il confine con Fénis. Sin qui giunge anche una parallela e sottostante ad Est strada poderale.
Per quanto concerne la discesa, in caso di prolungamento della gita insino l'Area delle Druges, conviene dal bivio di Champremier abbandonare sulla destra la strada percorsa in salita e discendere in
Saint Marcel con la Strada Regionale; in siffatta maniera passando dalla
"Locanda del Diavolo", Viplana, Ronc, Sazailland e Seissogne (
1066m; bel mulino in legno) si raggiunge il
Villaggio di Plout con il suo famosissimo
Santuario del 1640, ma esistente, come nicchia, già dal 1200, dedicato a "Notre Dame des Hermites" (
968 m; splendida
"Via Crucis" all'esterno nel porticato, che raffigura i
"Quindici Misteri del Rosario" ad opera di Pittore Astigiano nel 1854). Da Plout o Plou continuare per Réan, Mezéin (
793 m; 300 metri prima, bivio a destra per Fénis, ma con divieto di transito ai mezzi non autorizzati), Jayer, Moulin e Saint Marcel (Antico Castello a Paquier;
609 m); infine, passando sotto all'
Autostrada ed attraversando il ponte sulla Dora nei pressi dell'antica Fonderia del Rame
(547 m), s'arriva alla
Statale n° 26.
Abbinandola alla salita dal Villaggio di Coteau del Mont Saint Julien (con presso la Cima, il Santuario di San Grato ed il sottostante rifugio scavato nella roccia dell'eremita San Giuliano) da Fénis pel Valloncello del Pieiller, risulta
Fantastica Gita Escursionistica, paesaggistica, istruttiva nonché culturale, molto adatta a ragazzi ed anche per i bambini.
The renowned Plout Sanctuary (968m) built in 1200,
by emilius Description of the 10 most interesting Routes
Towards Mont St. Julien with Hermitage from Le Coteau old Village,
by Osw
1)- Mont Saint Julien
(1384m), through Western Slope: it starts with the path
n° 10B (wooden signpost for St. Julien) at the hairpin-junction between the villages of La Morgettaz and Le Pieiller
(1230m) after a short distance on a dirt track and soon you get to the source village "Phantom" by Le Coteau
(1234m), in the woods. Here is another similar sign, hanging from the old alp, half in ruins and in front, pointing towards the South direction, a small ramp leading to the little votive Chapel/Oratory of St. Joseph, just behind the old village, now abandoned (one renovated house) and looking ghostly, where in times not so long ago there was "Life". He turns to the East and with gentle climb you pass a brook with a flat stone, which acts as a miniscule bridge, leaving below a pasture with grass at the edge of the woods that is about to go broke, you continue progressing toward Northeast until meet the plates of polished rock and blackish
(aimed at a small climbing didactics; in the area are succulents). The trail begins to rise before addressing slope towards a grassy collar, scrapping on the left, (Collar of Saint Julien? Impassable because beyond presents a vertical rock face) and then decisively in the direction of North to a long wooden boardwalk that a good fence protects against a quantum leap rock, above the Pieiller Walloon. The next stretch leading to the wooden walkway that "cuts" the West Slope with a diagonal to the North, and very exposed an impressive leap rock, but protected by a fence that is hanging in the balance at the end because, due to the winter snow, it is off exit from its base. You have to pay a little attention, especially in the presence of childrens. After crossing the same, the trail climbs to the North-northeast, and with a beautiful stone staircase, pleasant to go, achieving a rampart with beautiful views of the Central Valley, the Dora Baltea and the Aosta Town; while the West stands the Range Roèses (to photograph must come in the morning), preceded by the South Coast more than
Mont Saint Julien salt to the nearby Torrasse
(1854m), Mont Corquet
(2527m) to eventually decline with semi-circular route to Mont Roux
(2277m), the site of ancient Ironmines and Copper. Turning to the right with a nice diagonal through the woods, on the trail soft, slightly steep and studded safe from dawn of mushrooms, you get to the
Saint Grat Sanctuary with octagonal Church its high, white and square (
T/E; 0h '35/0h '40). The true Summit is just above and you can reach in a short time with a trace of grass and trees just to the right (West).
2)- La Torrasse or Mont La Tourriasse (1903m) from Les Druges Alte, through the dirt road concomitant with the path
n° 14 towards Fontanafredda isolated Alpage
(1829m); from Fontaine Froide three possibilities:
1)- leaving the same, from the following alternative
1885 metres turn briefly before Northeast with short dirt road, after through the path
n° 9 towards Plan des Meyes
(1887m) and Meyes
(1893m) Pastures. From this last, pathless, to the altitude
1901 metres and, through the forest with sparce rocks, in North-northeast to Summit (
E/F; 1h'15/1h'30 from Les Druges Alte). Also
2)- from Fontanafreide continue up to the preceding alternative reaching Bren Alp (
1965m; last still used and with beautiful fountain in front); a short descent amongst the prairies with the small path
n° 9C lead to Meye Pasture and previous route.
3)- Even continuing up to the Prapremier Alp (
2010m; semi ruined and abandoned) and with traverse throuhg the hemicircular trail
n° 9B connecting with the route from La Rossa Alp (Fénis Valley). Beautiful excursion by snowshes with various departures, as above described; in this case, we recommend the tour starting downhill from Prapremier.
Mont La Touriasse or Torrasse above Clavalité & St. Marcel Valley,
by SalVal
3)- Mont Corquet
(2530m), by Crotey Hill: through the route
n° 3 from Les Druges Higher
(1575 metres about) up to the Chuc-servette Coppermines (
1733m abandoned) at the entrance on St. Marcel Valley and at the Western foot of Mont Roux; leaving the same right, continue South through the path
n° 18 towards the fork
2151 metres, just before Lavanché Pasture
(2071m). From the crossroads continue East through the path
n° 3E into a small secondary walloon reaching the nearby Crotey Dèsott and Damon Alps
(2348m, 2358) just below the homonym Hill
(2458m). From this in North before by an evident track
n° 8A, that arrives in East from the Tramouail de la Rossa (Fénis-Clavalité Valley), and after, through flat prairies, that more easily towards the cairn of Mont Corquet (
E/F; 0h'45 by Crotey Hill;
1h'30/1h'45 from Lavanche Pasture).
4)- Punta Plan Rué or Tita de la Rossa (2881m), through Belfrond Hill. From crossroads
1773 metres, on St. Marcel Walloon and before Eteley Pasture
(1741m), reach in South the Mulàc-St. Louis Turati Hunting House
(1937m) with the same path
n° 3/4; continue, briefly with same direction, after decisively changing East and crossing the Saint Marcel Torrent, towards Sinsein and Plan Rué Pastures
(1955m, 2100m). From this, leaving South the path towards Emonin, Layet Petite and Grande Chaux Alpages, climb on steep rocky-grassy slopes into a narrow chanel (great edelweiss) towards Belfrond Hill (
2598m Hunters Pass). By the North-northwest Crest or on the next Slope Northwest with fine debris and rotten rocks enough easily, but with caution, to the very narrow Summit (
EE/A/F+; 1h'15 by Belfrond Pass;
3h'15/3h'30 from Le Druges).
Punta Plan Rué from Mont Corquet nearby Crotey & Belfrond Hills,
by emilius
5)- Petit Avert/Grand Avert Crossing
(2946m, 2991m), through Lavòdilèc Hill: from Grande Chaux Hunting House
(2355m) with the path
7/102/Alta Via n° 1, or more directly from Petite Chaux Alp
(2420m) by almost the same trail (more in East) towards Lavòdilèc overhanging Hill
(2863m); continue North through a small track on Southwestern Slope to Pt. Avert (
2946m;
EE/F+; 0h35 from hill;
3h'00/3h'30 Grand-Alp). Continue with easy descent in Northeast on Northeast Crest reaching Terre Bleue Pass
(2830m); from this and by Southwest Crest with an exposed step into the short but exposed dihedral (I°+/II°-) to Grand Avert (
2991m;
EE/A/F+; 1h'15 by Petit).
Downhill: should go down via enough easy Northern Ridge to the next Grand Avert Pass
(2832m) and from this to the West without trail but steep moraine until you find the trail
7/102/Alta Via n° 1 and with this to Petite or Grande Chaux (
EE/A/F+; 1h'45/2h'15 from Grande or Petite Chaux;
5h'00/5h'30 Le Druges). Logically, you can also reverse path going up directly from Petite Chaux to the Grand Avert Pass and subsequent traverse towards Grand Avert, Terre Bleue Hill, Petite Avert and Lavòdilèc Hill.
6)- Punta del Tessonet (3264m) by Tessonet Collar. From Grande Chaux in South before with the path
4/102 up to the fork
2602 metres towards St. Marcel or Coronas Hill
(2916m) After, abandoning Southwest the same, along the various sources of St. Marcel Torrent and through the moraines to the remains of ancient Punta del Tessonet Glacier, already almost extint; through a short terminal and more steep ramp, amongst rotten blocks and debris, to the Tessonet Collar
(3066m). By the easy, but rotten and exposed in South, Western Ridge before avoiding to the left an small spire (North; I°+) after bypassing right (South; I°+/II°-) a short step on a rocky plaque to Summit.
In descent: same route to small pass or collar, paying attention to debris that covers the rocks. The same lead in South towards Grauson, branch of Tessonet, small Valley in the adjacent Val de Cogne (
EE/A/F+; 0h'45/1h'00 by Tessonet Collar;
2h'45/3h'00 from Grande Chaux Hunting House;
5h'45/6h'15 from Le Druges Alte tiny Village).
By M. Emilius: Leppe, Laval, Gianni Vert, Tessonet & Tersiva Summits,
by emilius
7)- Traverse by Coronas Hill towards Laval Summits and Punta Gianni Vert
(2916m, 3091m, 3102m, 3148m). From Grande Chaux through the trail
4/102 in South-southwest towards Saint Marcel also called Coronas Hill
(2916m), reached by a long diagonal on debris. From the Pass, with crossing in edge of the rige to South-southeast, bypassing the two Laval Summit to Gianni Vert Top (
E/F; 1h'00/1h'15 from hill;
1h'30/1h'45 by Grande Chaux;
4h'30-'45/5h'00-'15 Le Druges or nearby Picnic Area).
Downhill: or along the same, with round trip; is possible even by the easy short Southeast Crest to Collar, through rotten, broken rocks and blocks (
EE/F+/ 0h'25 by Top).
8)- By Mont Vallonet towards Punta di Leppe and Hill traverse (3305m). From Grande Chaux in South-southwest always with the path
4/102 into the Walloon Fenêtre towards Saint Marcel also called Coronas Hill
(2916m); or more in West through steep moraines with a small
not numbered path to Vallonet Pass
(3062m). From both the passes with crossing in edge of the rige to the North-northwest towards Punta di Leppe, by the easy South-southeast Crest, reaching the triple Summit
(Western 3305m, Central 3300 metres about, Eastern 3292/3 metres about), with short crossing from one to another (
E/F; 2h'45/3h'15 by Grande Chaux;
5h'30/6h'00 Le Druges Alte).
Downhill: through the more steep but always easy Northeast Crest to Leppe Hill
(3108/10m) and from this return to Grande Chaux (
E/F+; 2h'00/2h'30 from the Summit).
P. Garzotto through the Pt. Walloon with traverse to Gr. Roise by South Crest; or on Becca di Salé through the East Arpisson Walloon,
by Emilio Bertona aka emilius, Cristina Bellone & Osw
9)- Punta Ilario Antonio Garzotto
(3273/4m), through Leppe Hill
(3108/10m): from Grande Chaux Hunting House, in ascent by the preceding route, through the Little Vallon in West-northwest to pass; from this by South-southwestern Slope to Summit (
EE/A/F+; 2h'45/3h'15 from Grande Chaux;
5h'30/6h'00 by Le Druges Alte).
Note: from Punta Garzotto is possible to continue the journey Northward reaching the Gr. Roise and reconnecting with the next itinerary. Down from the same first toward a large saddle almost horizontal (
3190m; short passages of III°/III°+ on the edge of the ridge); from this, past two small and insignificant elevations, climb a steeper section reaching the round Unnamed Quote
(3249m). Once you reach the next notch
(3245m) is continuous with the easier but exposed Crest South reaching the flat and wide Top (
EE/A/PD/PD+; 1h'00/1h'15 by Garzotto;
1h'45/2h'00 Leppe Hill). This via, as the next
n° 10)- are to be considered Mountaineering-Climbing and require a certain amount of experience. Or to complete the crossing to the Col, Becca di Salé, with its descent into the Walloon Arpisson, should be considered as a rather long and tiring.
10)- Becca di Salé, Little and Grande Roise traverse (3137m, 3279m, 3357m), by Salé Hill
(3025m). From les Druges Alte towards Choulet
(1821m) Pasture through the paths
3/4/4G and from this with traverse in Northwest towards the Arpisson Eastern Walloon up to Salé and Bonplan Alps
(2159m, 2374m). From the last entering into a narrow and desolate walloon between the Little Roise North Wall and Becca of Salé East Face, climbing on the very wild Eastern Slope, reach the Salé or Grande Roise Pass (
3025m, ancient Leppy or of Brissogne Pass). From the hill to the North and in short time towards Becca of Salé through the easy Southern Crest (
EE/F+/F; 0h'30 from the hill;
3h'00/3h'30 from the fork near Choulet Pasture;
4h'30/5h'30 Le Druges). Or in South to the Petite Roise
(3279m) with subsequent traverse to Punte Gianni Junod also Central Roise
(3300m); from the South Summit to Grande Roise
(3357m), round trip route and descent by the previous via (
EE/A/PD-/PD+; 4h'00/4h'30 Gr. Chaux;
7h'00/7h'30 Le Druges). It is also possible to make the crossing (more difficult) in the opposite direction coming from Punta Garzotto and via the South Crest (
see above).
Downhill: via the same route, or going down to the not difficult but very exposed Ridge South until the notch
3245 meteres; from this, after a descent westward in a channel with rocky soil, there is a small basin with large blocks at the base of the Southern Wall Grande Roise. Navigating towards South, in altitude of
about 3050/60 metres and at the base of the Western Wall of Punta Garzotto, you reach the track from Walloon des Laures reaches the Colle di Leppe, from whence this Grande Chaux with the way earlier.
Difficulties & Equipment
Difficulties
Highly variable depending on the Excursion and as directed by
T/E (Tourist or Hiking) to
EE/A (Expert Hikers/Climbers) with steps, however, never exceed the II°+, except for the complete crossing of Grande Roise Chain that, if full path on edge of the ridge, involves steps of II°/II°+/III°/III°+.
Molto variabili a seconda dell'Escursione e come rivolte da T/E (Turistiche od Escursionistiche) ad EE/A (Escursionisti Esperti/Alpinisti) e con passaggi che, comunque, non superano mai il II°+, tranne che per la traversata delle Rouèses che, se percorso integralmente sul filo di cresta, comporta passaggi di II°/II°+/III°/III°+.
Grande Roise Range complete traverse from Punta di Leppe,
by Marco Cossard "Crevassino"
Equipment
For Hiking, preferably with rope against some climbs type Punta Plan Rué, Punta del Tessonet, Punta Ilario Antonio Garzotto and traverse on the whole Grande Roise Chain.
Da Escursionismo, meglio se con corda nei confronti di alcune ascensioni tipo Punta Plan Rué, Punta del Tessonet, Punta Ilario Antonio Garzotto, Punta Tersiva e traversata dell'intera Catena delle Rouèses.