TOUR of the PILA BASIN

By car:

• From TORINO, MILANO, etc: Motorway A5. Exit at IVREA or Quincinetto (PIEDMONT) AOSTA West/Aymavilles, Cogne Municipalities.
• From Gressan (alternaive Regional Road by the small square Chez-le Ru 610m) towards Leysettaz Dèsott, Tivet Villages and Pila-Resort up to Les Fleurs Fraction (1.414m). But in this case, then you must descend to the Regional Road from Charvensod to the junction 951 meters for Reverier du Tzat and Dessous Alpages. From Aymavilles (646m) towards Cogne Valley: reaching Vieyes (1.132m), Epinel, Crétaz Hamlets to Cogne (1.534m); through Main Road. Or from this by Regional Road towards Montroz and Gimillan (1.785m) Villages; from the last in Northwest towards the above Arpisson/Tsa Sètze Vallons.
• From FRANCE: through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Entrèves-crossroads to Vény/Ferret Valleys - Mountain Guides of Courmayeur - La Saxe Rock Gym - Courmayeur. By Little Saint Bernard Hill, closed since November until half May to La Thuile Valley - Pré Saint Didier - Courmayeur.
  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).

Routes Description

Various route hypotheses with diversifications of departure and distance on the four watersheds that surround the Tourist Center of Domaine Skiable of Pila 's Basin. In this great and wideTOUR of PILA BASIN, which covers the entire Pila Resort, we want to propose, in addition to the integral route starting from the North-Northwest from the Pointe de la Pierre (2.653 meters and above the three Municipalities of Aymavilles, Jovençan and Gressan) and arrival at the end of the opposite, or Eastern, watershed which ends with the Pointe du Dard or "Becca de Rien" and even "Becca du Rem" (of copper) (2.033 meters above the Municipality of Charvensod) a series of alternative itineraries which in practice correspond to the splitting of the entire TOUR of the CONCA di PILA. It is possible, in fact, to divide the entire route into four parts which correspond to the deployment of the four different watersheds which contain this large and extensive basin and which correspond to the municipal division just carried out. But bearing in mind that on the opposite or Southern side, the border between the Municipalities of Aymavilles and Cogne takes place at Pointe du Couìs (2.661 meters and above the two small Valleys of Tomba and Drinc); while that of Cogne runs out in the Punta della Valletta (+; 3.090m). From the latter, which is the highest peak of this small subgroup,a long buttress extends towards the North which in the first section, that is, up to the Testa Nera (Black Head, 2.820 m), acts as a divider between the Valley of the Plan de l'Eyvie (in the highest part of the Conca di Pila) and the adjacent Vallone di Arbole or Arbolle which goes up to Mont Emilius (3.559m); from the Colle di Chamolé (2.641m) below it divides the Eastern part of the Pila basin to the West from the Comboé Valley or Combuì 's Vallon, immediately to the East. A further division is recorded in the final part, in which the Conca di Pila, now decidedly in the territory of Charvensod, first separates from the Gorgia del Dard and then, between the Pointe du Dard and the Alpe Les Pousses, goes to merge with the same.

 

 

 

Varie ipotesi di via con diversificazioni di partenza e percorrenza sui quattro spartiacque che cingono il Centro Turistico del Domaine Skiable della Conca di Pila. In questo grande TOUR of the PILA BASIN, che percorre semicircolarmente l'intero Comprensorio di Pila, vogliamo proporre, oltre al percorso integrale con partenza da Nord-nordovest dalla Pointe de la Pierre (2.653 metri ed al di sopra dei tre Comuni di Aymavilles, Jovençan e Gressan) ed arrivo al termine dello spartiacque opposto, od Orientale, che si conclude con la Pointe du Dard o "Becca de Rien" (nella definizione locale di una sommità di scarsa importanza) ed anche "Becca du Rem", ovvero del rame, con locale interpretazione che par derivi da una vicina miniera in un valloncello subito ad Occidente, (2.033 metri al di sopra del Comune di Charvensod) una serie di itinerari alternativi che in pratica corrispondono al frazionamento dell'intero GIRO della CONCA di PILA. Risulta possibile, infatti, dividere l'intero percorso in quattro parti che corrispondono al dispiego dei quattro diversi spartiacque contenenti questo ampio ed esteso bacino e che corrispondono alla divisione comunale testé effettuata. Ma tenendo presente che sul versante opposto, o Meridionale, il confine tra i Comuni di Aymavilles e Cogne avviene presso la Pointe du Couìs (2661 metri ed al di sopra dei due Valloncelli di Tomba e del Drinc); mentre quello di Cogne s'esaurisce nella Punta della Valletta (+; 3.090 m). Da ques'ultima, risultante quale sommità maggiormente elevata del piccolo sottogruppo, si dilunga verso Settentrione un lungo contrafforte che dapprincipio, cioé fino alla Testa Nera (2.820 m), funge da divisorio tra Vallone del Plan de l'Eyvie (nella parte più elevata della Conca di Pila) ed adiacente Vallone d'Arbole od Arbolle che risale fino al Monte Emilius (3.559 m); dal sottostante Colle di Chamolé (2.641 m) separa invece la parte più Orientale del Bacino di Pila ad Occidente dal Vallone del Comboé o Combuì, subito ad Oriente. Un'ulteriore divisione si registra nella parte finale dal Col Plan Fenêtre, nella quale la Conca di Pila, ormai decisamente sul territorio di Charvensod, dapprima si separa dalla Gorgia del Dard per poi, tra la Pointe du Dard e l'Alpe Les Pousses, andare a fondersi con la medesima.

 

 

 

So summing up we will have these four sectors with the possibility of as many diversified itineraries: 1) - "Via Panorama": from the Pointe de la Pierre to the Colle di Tsa Sètze or Chasèche (2h'30 at the first and as many on the crossing; from F to F +). 2) - "Via Ferrata": from Colle di Tsa Sètze or Chasèche to Punta della Valletta and crossing the Mont Bellefaçe up to the Testa Nera (1h'30 for the first and the same crossing over an hour for the descent to the lake of Chamolé; from F to F + / D- / D for the Ferrata and from F to F + for the entire crossing). 3) - "Not equipped route": from Colle di Chamolé to the homonymous Coastline or Costa, Colle di Gran Plan, Punta and Colle di Replan, Signal Sismona and to Colle di Plan Fenetre (1h'15 at the first from the chairlift station and as many in traverse; from PD- to F + / F). 4) - "Not equipped route" but with a small path: from Colle di Plan Fenetre to Pointe de Ponteilles, Punta Valletta and Pointe du Dard (1h'30 crossing to the North and just as long on the way back, as it is not convenient to go down the steep and intricate Northwestern slopes of the three summits; from F to F + / F / F + / F).

 

 

 

Dunque sintetizzando avremo questi quattro settori con possibilità di altrettanti itinerari diversificati: 1) - "Via Panorama": dalla Pointe de la Pierre al Colle di Tsa Sètze o Chasèche (2h'30 alla prima ed altrettante in traversata; da F a F+). 2) - "Via Ferrata": dal Colle di Tsa Sètze o Chasèche alla Punta della Valletta e traversata del Mont Bellefaç fino alla Testa Nera (1h'30 per la prima ed altrettante in traversata oltre ad un'ora per la discesa verso il Lago di Chamolé; da F a F+/D-/D per la Ferrata e da F a F+ per l'intera traversata). 3) - "Via non attrezzata": dal Colle di Chamolé alla omonima Costa, Colle di Gran Plan, Punta e Colle di Replan, Signal Sismona e fino al Colle di Plan Fenetre (1h'15 al primo dalla Stazione della seggiovia ed altrettante in traversata; da PD- a F+/F). 4) - "Via non attrezzata" ma con piccolo sentiero: dal Colle di Plan Fenetre alla Pointe de Ponteilles, Punta Valletta e Pointe du Dard (1h.30 in traversata verso Nord ed altrettanto tempo al ritorno, poiché non conviene scendere i ripidi ed intricati versanti Nordoccidentali delle tre sommità; da F a F+/F/F+/F).

Pointe de la Pierre towards Punta della Valletta & from this to Chamolé Coast-Punta del Dard with semicircular route on two parallel watersheds that surround Pila
Basic way or approach road & route towards and from Touristic Center Pila Resort in Gressan Municipality. From the Center Touristic of Pila (attainable from the City of Aosta through the Regional Road that from the Bridge Suaz (567m) above the River Dora Baltea climbs to the inhabited area of Charvensod (746m) for then to continue, through a whole small series of fractions of this Municipality, reaching at first Péroulaz renowned Hamlet (1.359m) to the border with Gressan and then Les Fleurs Village (1.414m), already inside this last. Touching in progression the Villages of the Petite and the Grande Cerise, Eaux-Froides, Charémoz, Bettères and Perchu the same one reaches the center of Pila (1.800m about). Also, always pivot of reference the Pont Suaz to climb up to Les Fleurs with the road that, long the same stream, it reaches the Commune of Gressan (600m about). From the rotunda really in front of the Commune, between the inhabited areas of Taxel and Chez the Rus, to go up again at first toward Southeast among a series of small scattered fractions, but adjacent; then to a first winding road to form of elbow the same one clearly changes direction in East and, doubling the characteristic Hill of the Gargantua (toponym derived from Legend of Giant "Gargantua et Pantagruel", by François Rabelais), just above Gressan. The same one reaches the Village of Plan David (745m) and subsequently with a series of wide windings road those of Perriail, Champlan Dessous, Leysettaz, Champlan Dessus, Barrier, Tivet and Gerdaz (1.340m; intermediary station of the Cableway Aosta/Pila) that it discards as soon as on the left. With other two windings the same reaches Les Fleurs to the conjunction with preceding Regional Road, from where whence towards Pila. Interesting and fun approach that should be done with one and go down with the other in asphalt road and viceversa.

Sometimes we are troubled, sometimes we meditate******From Pila "lower", through the great tunnel in cement, to reach the breadth superior square (1.870m, parking lot, Ski school, toilettes), where he leaves the car, since all the dirt farms roads in dirt earth to follow introduces the poster of prohibition. From this to reach an i cross of three roads "poderali", site between Gorraz and Gorraz Damon, taking that in right, concomitant with the path n° 23 and to follow it with direction Southwest (abundant posters and signals). Passing below the Cableway Gorraz/Leissé Damon, to reach at first the Pasture of Lap (2.076m), that he leaves as soon as on the left, introducing then himself in the homonym Bois (Wood). Immediately after to reach the Grand Grimod Dessous (2.158m), where a new triplex intersection of paths happens (to the right or North for the Grimondet Pastures (2.105m) and to the left or Southeast for the Grand Grimod Dessus (2.232m; arrival of the "Funivia"). Instead leave the deviation between the two with trail n° 23A toward the hairpin bend 2.294 meters, just below the chairlift that from Alpe Grivel reaches just above and addressed to the Col de la Pierre, reachable with a detour from the Grand Grimod always by footpath n° 23A in about 2h.30' from Pila. Changing direction to the South reach the arrival station of the Grand Grimod (2.193m) and the nearby Grimod Dessus Alpage (2.232m; arrival of the cable car from Gorraz) and continue towards the South through bumps grassy meadows and small-debris basins reaching a height of 2.382 meters a short detour of the trail n° 22A to the Colle del Couis (2.637m), as well as the private dirt road that reaches 2.258 metres from the junction between Grimod Dessous and Grand Grimod. With the latter, addressed to the Pointe du Couis (2.661m), achieve in a short time with a small deviation of a small path in Northwest the Col du Drinc (2.565m) and, via a steep but brief deviation, get to the Pointe du Drinc or Drink along its "Crestina" East-southeast. Outflanking the right or East a short rocky passage at an altitude 2.601 meters easily reach the Summit (2.663m) with the small path n° 1 leading to some repeaters (E or BSA; 0h'45 from Drinc Hill; 3h'45/4h'30 by Pila-Gorraz Upper). From this go on the watershed crossing the next Punta del Couìss (or "Blizzard's" Point with Simone Faccarello "Arno" Bivouac) and the Grevon Platform with easy, but more aerial route as well as exposed, through the Northern Crest to the Top.

Here it is better to pass from winter to summer******In descent: A)- Starting from Punta del Drinc, down with the same crest or quickly (both in 10/15 minutes) and easily with the Northwest to the Col de la Pierre (between Pila Basin and Ozein's Area or of the Alpe de La Pierre), whence with the trail n° 23A at the Grand Grimod Dessous (2.158 m ; 0h.45 '/ 1h'00 both from Punta del Drinc and from Colle de la Pierre). Or descending on oppossite Western side towards the, last into the Ozein 's Basin, Alpe la Pierre (2.119m) via the small path n° 8 and then reach the crossroads 1.476 meters, just beyond and East of the Dailleu's Hamlet (1.480m) between Ozein Turlin Dessus Hamlets. First with the Regional Road in asphalt, which reaches Turlin Damon or of Aymavilles (1.557m), and then with the farms dirt road in winter known as "the Premù" (Cross-country skiing Run; * attention has currently been closed to traffic through a ban) you reach Brin di Milieu (1.642m; recently renovated), Alpetta Pasture (1.718m), passing just under the Fernier Alpage (1.773m) and again, in the locality Posse and by a brief but steep shortcut n° 21A to Pila (1.776m; 1h'00 starting from Turlin Dessus). Or B) - descend indifferently along steep and consisting of moraines and blocks slopes along the North-northeast or East Sides in the direction of the Plan de l'Eyvie (2.330m), from where, through the path n° 22TVC ed along the Plan de l'Eyvie Torrent towards Pila Resort also to the Northeast to the Chairlift of Chamolé (2.311m).

 

 

 

 

 

M. Emilius (3559m) above Pila Basin from Western watershed bypassing Punta del Drinc to Piatta de Grevon******Via d'approccio verso nonché dal Centro Turistico del Domaine Skiable di Pila nel Comune di Gressan. Dal Centro Turistico di Pila (raggiungibile dalla Città di Aosta tramite la Strada Regionale che dal Ponte Suaz (567 m) sopra il Fiume Dora Baltea sale all'abitato di Charvensod (746 m) per poi proseguire, attraverso tutta una piccola serie di frazioncine di questa Municipalità, raggiungendo dapprima Péroulaz (1.359 m) al confine con Gressan e poi Les Fleurs (1.414 m), già all'interno di questo ultimo. Toccando in progressione i Villaggi della Petite e della Grande Cerise, Eaux-Froides, Charémoz, Bettères e Perchu la stessa raggiunge il centro di Pila (1.800 metri circa). Oppure, sempre con perno di riferimento il Pont Suaz, procedere fino a Les Fleurs con la strada che, lungo la Dora, raggiunge il Comune di Gressan (600 metri circa). Dalla rotonda proprio davanti al Comune, tra gli abitati di Taxel e Chez le Ru, risalire dapprima verso Sudest tra una serie di piccole frazioni sparse, ma adiacenti; poi ad un primo tornante a forma di gomito la stessa cambia nettamente direzione in Est nonché doppiando la caratteristica Collina del Gargantua (toponimo derivato dalla "Leggenda del Gigante"). La medesima raggiunge il Villaggio di Plan David (745 m) e successivamente con una serie di "tornantoni" quelli di Perriail, Champlan Dessous, Leysettaz, Champlan Dessus, Barrier, Tivet e Gerdaz (1.340 m; stazione intermedia della Funivia Aosta/Pila), con quest'ultima scartata appena a sinistra. Con altri due tornanti la stessa raggiunge Les Fleurs alla congiunzione con la precedente Regionale, donde a Pila. Avvicinamento interessante nonché divertente, che conviene effettuare con l'una e scendere con l'altra strada e viceversa.

 

 

An intermediate main strecht of route from Great Shoulder 3.007 meters towards Punta della Valletta (3.090m), Mont Bellefaçe (2.970m) and Testa Nera (2.820m)

Essential Gear

Difficulty This route can be considered EE/F for both the crests watershed (Northwest from Arno Bivouac or East-southeast by Col Tsa Sètse).

 

L'itinerario è da classificare in EE/F per entrambe le creste spartiacque (Nordovest dal Bivacco Arno oppure Est-sudest dal Col Tsa Sètse). Pointe de la Valletta toward Chamolé Pass on watershed Plan de l'Eyve/Arbolle Vallon above Pila 's Conca******Equipment For Hiking. Calculate that at Bivacco Simone Facchinello "Arno" (always open and free) you can camp out, but the same is not equipped for that.