Via ferrata of the Crête Sèche
Resorts: Bionaz
The Crète Sèche is a nice ferrata along the divide that marks the Swiss border. You pass from the woods to the valley, dominated by rocky peaks of the Morion and de la Vierge, that takes to the lower level of the Mont Berlon outline. The itinerary on the crest is really wonderful and reminds you of the big and aerial alpine “spans” in extraordinary places.
Technical information
How to get here
Tollbooth of Aosta, take the tunnel heading towards Gran San Bernardo. Deviate to the right for Valpelline, which you will pass, and continue until you reach lago di Lexert (Lexert lake). Turn left for Ruz and park your car at the entrance to the village.
Description of the route
From the parking area of Ruz you enter the village following the signs for the Crete Seche refuge. You go up a nice path that, at first, alternates with a dirt road at the entrance to the valley. Once you reach the mountain pastures you can continue on the normal path or take the shortcuts to the left, (indicated by signs with “raccourci” written on them), that steeper and quicker take you to the refuge. Once at the facility, pass it heading towards the bivouac Spataro that dominates the entrance to the plains. Once passed the bivouac you continue towards the bottom of the valley. At this point the tracks are not so visible: to the left you can see the detrital slide that leads to the Mont Gelé.
You continue to the right looking for various posts which are not easy to find, but you can easily see the huge post placed on the hill, which you can already see from the plains. Once you’ve reached the hill continue to the left on the fully equipped trail that goes up all along the crest. The itinerary is continuous and simple, with some aerial parts and short portions without rope (because it’s not needed). The last part is characterized by short amusing plaques placed to the left of the crest. In some parts the rock defoliates but does not get in the way.
Once you’ve finished the ferrata you climb down on the huge morainic rock and go to the left where there are two trails. The one to the right goes down towards middle coast on the plains and takes to the refuge. The one to the left goes towards the canal and down to the plains. In both trails you continue on the path that you crossed in the beginning.