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), Archésaz Hamlet (1.146m), 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 & Passes
Description clockwise starting from the West above Graines to Hills, Passes & Summits to get to the West-northwest over Curien. (For the approaches see above Overview)
1) - 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.
2) - 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).
3) - Pointe de la Regina (+; 2.387m). From Ranzola Hill E/F; 0h'30/0h'40). Also from Garda East-southeastern Hill also Gombetta Pass (0h'20).
4) - Garda East-southeastern Hill also Gombetta Pass (2268m). 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).
5) - Mont Rena also Wisomattòspétz (+; 2512m). From Ranzola Hill through paths n° 3B/3A to the Garda Southeast Hill (E/F; 0h'30); from this to small Saddle of Pra Bianco (around 2.400 meters; not to be confused with the Pra Bianco Pass (2.331m), just to the East. Signals and path-traces) and with small path and following debris traces on the North-northwest Ridge to Summit (EE/F+; 1h'10/1h'20 from Ranzola Hill).
6) - Mont Taille (2.561m) and nearby Weissmatten (2.456m).
a) - From Rena with traverse in crest and, after a small carving 2.492 meters, circumventions to the Western Face Mont Taille or with rock climbing;
b) - continue East on terminal crossing on Western Crest of Weissmatten. Remark: the entire crossing of these three Summits requires experience and prudence because, although the path is signaled, the same spread for about a Kilometer through grassy slopes very steep and exposed to the West, Southwest, South-southwest and the overcoming of rocks not difficult (I°/I°+) but often crumbling and rotten; is more a path to chamoises Hunters rather than suitable for Hikers. Be avoided altogether in snow presence, especially when it is fresh and tends to glide over the grassy slopes (EE/A; F to F +; 1h'15/01h'45 for the both complete traverse).
7) - Mont Taf (2.623m). From Mont Rena with traverse on ridge to the Sout-southeast on North-northwest Ridge, discarding West the Mont Taille (EE/F+ 1h'30/2h'00 from Ranzola Hill. Also from Frudièrecoll before through path n° 1A up to the point 2.416 meters (continuation of the same with descent towards Petersch Gombò and Gressoney), after along Southeast short Crest with easy but exposed route (EE/F+; 1h'00/1h'15).
8) - Frudièrecoll or Frudiera Pass (2.265m). Starting Graines Village with hemi circular route on dirt road and path to first lake; from this to second Frudière Lochs and Western Slope in terminal part (EE; 0h'40 from the first Frudière Lake; 2h'15/2h'45 from departure by Graines).
9) - Marienhorn also Corno Maria (2.767m). This mountain is located on the end of the Ridge Northeastern of Mont Nery, where precipitates with a large rock face above the Forca Walloon and the Alp Henniciuken (2.000m), in the Gressoney Valley. The constant fall of stones from the same, despite the compact appearance of its plates, to prohibit forced by the beginning of 2000 the path (barrier with sign) downhill to the Village of Trenta (1.158m) at the Lys Torrent; here you have to use to get off the trail n° 1A, after a short climb to Mount Taf, shall be directed towards the Northeast, reaching the Weissmatten Cable Car (2.043m), whence the Camping Gressoney. You can climb from the Pass of Frudiera reaching the collar of about 2.680 meters on the the Northeast Crest of Nery and through the easy and short, but exposed to the Southeast, Southwest Ridge (EE/A; 1h'15/1h'30 from pass); or going directly scree followed by large blocks on the West Slope. So June 25th, 1995 by Osvaldo and Marco Cardellina Cossard starting Estoul Village at the Ranzola Hill and subsequent crossing on Mont Rena, Mont Taille and Mont Taf to the Hill of Frudiera; from this through upper moraine with the final climb through the West Wall and descent to the collar 2.680m, via the Southeast Ridge.
10) - Mont Néry also Becca di Frudiera (+ 3.075m). We list all the routes starting from the East, North and West into the Basin of Frudière:
a) - From Graines to Frudière Alpage and to the more great Frudière Loch; after through Northern Slope of large Saddle about 2.890/5 meters and West Ridge to the Western Ante Top (3.027m) and Top (A/F+; from PD- to PD; 2h'45/3h'15 from Lake; 5h'15/5h'45 from Graines Village).
b) - Through Northwestern Face of Ante Top 3.027 meters, upper snowfield, small triangolar wall and West Ridge in final part, by Guido De Rege and Giuseppe Wuillermin in July 1925; first winter Emilio Cappelli and Alberto Linty in February 26/27th, 1965 and first solo by Pier Luigi Ferrero May 02th, 1987; all the ascents through the left gully of around 250/60 meters in final part below the West Ridge (A/PD+/AD-; 2h'30/3h'00).
c) - Through Northern E'peron to Ante Summit 3.027 meters and West Ridge. From Frudièrecoll or from two Frudière Lakes directly on North small Spur, by Giulio and Tito Zanetti in July 31th, 1923, with passages from I°//II°/II°+ up to III°-/III° along 600 meters (A/PD+; 3h'00/3h'30).
d) - Through Northern great snowfield (27°/32°), triangular snowfield (33/35°), little gully (36°/38°) to Western Ridge, between Ante Top 3.027 meters and the Summit, and final easy climbing by the same (A; from F to F+; 2h'30/2h'45 from Frudière Pass; 5h'00/5h'30 from Graines).
e) - From Frudèrecoll through a large snowfield (27°/30°) on Northern Slope and rowards North-northeast Crest in superior sector (in the last quarter of the ridge) and Western Ridge in terminal part, by Edoardo Ferrero, lone in Summer 1984 (A/F/F+; 2h'00/2h'15 from Frudière Pass).
f) - From Frudèrecoll through Northern Slope and directly to Summit on North Rib, by Osvaldo Cardellina, solo in October 05th, 2002, with passages from II° to III°+ (A/PD+/AD-; 3h'30/4h'00 Frdièrecoll; PD+/AD-; 2h'15/2h'30 from the rocky base in the last around 230/40 meters).
g) - From Frudèrecoll through Northeast Crest from the collar around 2.680 meters, between Marienhorn and Mont Nery, by Pier Luigi Ferrero, solo in Summer 1985, with passages from I°+ to II° (partially route by via with different workarounds South, below the edge of the Crest); (A; from F+ to PD; 3h'30/4h'00 pass; 2h'00/2h'15 from collar). Still not made in integral; probably challenging with exposed climbing on not good rock.
11) - Mont Solaron or Punta di Soleron (2.888m). From the first Frudière Loch through large Saddle about 2.895 meters and Southeast Crest.
12) - Pointe Champ-Long or Champlon (2.671m). From Mont Solaron through crossing and East-southeast Ridge.
13) - Fourchette or La Forchetta also Nanta Pass (2.202m). From Frudière Alpage or from Chatelet Pond without paths.
14) - Cleve de Moula (2.241m). From Restol or Restoly (1.682m) or from Champ Charlec (1.766m) Alpages through two paths n° 9C passing on Balavra Alp (1.881m) or more to the East with dirt road to Rovetta (1.777m), Chavanne (1.871m), Oreille (1.991m) and next unnamberede path to previous route, passing under Merian Alpage (2.019m). Possibility of descent always with path to Moula Alp (1.885m) into nearby Chasten Walloon.
15) - Becca di Meriau or Bec de Merian (2.177m). From Restol pasture through the Forest on Northern Slopes, pathless, also with crossing from Cleve de Moula by Southeast brief Crest.
Approaching to Lakes & Frudièrecoll
The Lakes Frudière, unlike those of the Conca (Basin) Estoul that are quite numerous among the Walloons Bringuez, Palasinaz, Freide and Estoul, are only two in number and located at the end of the Walloon namesake, just below the pass or Frudièrecoll. The first lake you come to is the Lower but that, with a play on words, it is the largest and most extensive; place the altitude of
2.035 meters above possesses a surface area of
880.770 square meters, compared to a length of
around 422 meters and a width of
around 260 meters. Just above, after a rocky and grassy pastures with two unnamed and now semi ruined (
2.116m, 2.273m;
see under the photographs) is the second less large lake or Higher
(2.230m), approximately one-tenth less in size and located on the Southwest slopes of the Mount Taf
(2.623m). A third mini pond is located on the Western side of the latter. From these the last stretch of the path
n° 9 leads to Pass of Frudiera
(2.265m) to the Valley of Gressoney, or that the Lys from the name that gives you the Torrent.
Important note: at present the path, concomitant with the farm dirt road that runs through the Vallons of Frudiera is closed due to a landslide still unsafe, almost immediately after the Graines Village up to the Alp Frudière. To access the lakes you have to take the next Walloon Estoul to Barmasse Pasture
(2.083m), just below the Ranzola Hill, and then turn South on the trail
n° 9A overcoming the large saddle
2.163 meters and descend towards Alp de la Garda
(2.072m) and then navigate to the Lower Lake Frudiera.
I Laghi di Frudière, a differenza di quelli della Conca di Estoul che sono alquanto numerosi tra i Valloni Bringuez, di Palasinaz, Freide ed Estoul, sono esclusivamente in numero di due e situati all'estremità del Vallone omonimo, appena sotto il passo o Frudièrecoll. Il primo lago che si incontra é quello Inferiore ma che, con un gioco di parole, risulta il più grande ed esteso; posto all'altitudine di 2.035 metri possiede una superficie di 880.770 metri quadri, a fronte di una lunghezza di circa 422 metri ed una larghezza di circa 260 metri. Appena sopra, dopo un promontorio roccioso ed erboso con due alpeggi innominati ed ormai semi diroccati (2.116 m, 2.273 m; vedi foto) si trova il secondo lago o Superiore (2.230 m), di circa un decimo inferiore per dimensioni e posto alle pendici Sudovest del monte Taf (2.623 m). Un terzo mini laghetto si trova sulla sponda Occidentale di questo ultimo. Da questi l'ultimo tratto del sentiero n° 9 conduce al Passo di Frudiera 2.265 m) verso la Valle di Gressoney oppure detta del Lys dal nome che le dà il Torrente.
Nota importante: allo stato attuale il sentiero, concomitante con la strada poderale, che percorre il Vallone di Frudiera é chiuso, causa una frana ancora pericolante, da quasi subito dopo il Villaggio fino all'Alpe di Frudière. Per accedere ai laghi si deve percorrere il successivo Vallone di Estoul fino all'Alpe Barmasse (2.083 m), sottostante il Colle della Ranzola, per poi deviare a Sud con il sentiero n° 9A superando la larga sella 2.163 metri e scendere in direzione dell'Alpe de la Garda (2.072 m) per poi traversare verso il Lago Inferiore.