Sport Itineraries: Valgrisenche

Tra vigneti e meleti percorrete un tratto della valle centrale e poi imboccate una delle valli più suggestive e selvagge della Valle d'Aosta: la Valgrisenche. Lungo il percorso borghi e castelli medievali invitano alla sosta.

SAINT-PIERRE
Lo scenario è reso fiabesco dal castello che dall’alto della sua rocca domina il paesaggio e risulta ben visibile anche di notte grazie ad un suggestivo sistema di illuminazione. Al suo interno, il museo regionale di scienze naturali per un viaggio alla scoperta di ambienti naturali, flora e fauna della Valle d’Aosta. Ma a Saint-Pierre c' è anche un secondo castello: Sarriod de la Tour, immerso in un meleto, conserva nella meravigliosa “sala delle teste” un prezioso soffitto ligneo della fine del 1400, decorato con figure antropomorfe, mostri, insetti ed animali.

ARVIER E LEVEROGNE
In una conca coltivata a vigneti, Arvier testimonia la caparbietà nell’utilizzare tutta la terra disponibile innalzando nei secoli i terrazzamenti posti sul versante più assolato. Proprio qui si produce il famoso vino rosso Enfer d’Arvier, uno dei primi vini valdostani ad ottenere la denominazione D.O.C..
Attraverserete il borgo medievale di Leverogne e poi, imboccando la strada per la Valgrisenche, potrete vedere il santuario di Rochefort e più avanti sulla sinistra i ruderi del castello di Montmayeur.

LA VALGRISENCHE E LA TRADIZIONE DEI DRAPS
Occhi aperti per non farvi sfuggire nulla, in un viaggio affascinante attraverso la storia, la tradizione e un ambiente suggestivo. La strada sale lungo lo stretto fondovalle, fino a Planaval. Poi la prima piacevole sorpresa: la vallata si apre all’improvviso, dominata sullo sfondo dalla vetta della Grande Sassière e, a destra, dalla Testa del Rutor. Di qui in avanti il percorso risale dolcemente il vasto pianoro fino al capoluogo, Valgrisenche, caratteristico borgo di origini medievali, con il suo campanile romanico. Poco oltre il paese, il lago di Beauregard, annunciato dall'imponente diga. Il luogo ideale per rilassarvi, tra il verde intenso dei boschi di conifere e l’argento della cresta che segna lo spartiacque con la Val d’lsère.
Le nevicate, un tempo, isolavano la valle e le possibilità economiche non erano granché. E così bisognava ingegnarsi, produrre tessuti caldi, pratici e, soprattutto, resistenti. Ecco i famosi Draps della Valgrisenche, realizzati in lana di pecora sugli antichi telai, i métiers. In origine, per renderli impermeabili, venivano fatti infeltrire immergendoli ripetutamente in acqua fredda e battendoli con spazzole di legno. I tempi sono cambiati, ma la tradizione dei Draps, in questa valle, è rimasta. Coperte, tovaglie, indumenti, scialli, rivestimenti per divani e poltrone… ancora oggi vengono realizzati su telai costruiti sull’antico modello. Tessuti esclusivi, che potete ammirare nella mostra permanente nel capoluogo di Valgrisenche.

The area was created for the 1989 sport climbing competition. There are 4 main sectors: Gare Est, Cheyenne, Gare Ovest, Muro rosso. The climbing style for all routs is small holds and endurance. The anchoring is good and the distance between pitons is never excessive. It is good practice grounds for onsight climbs and for endurance.
The activity requires technical experience. Alpine guide assistance is recommended.

Descent: The stops have chains and bolts and climbers abseil down.

Minimum, maximum and average route difficulty from 6a to 7c, average 6c.

Total number of routes: 45

Average length is 25 meters with a minimum of 15 meters in the cheyenne sector and maximum of 27 in the gare Est sector.

Other rock walls in the area: Miollet - Valgrisenche

Wall ascent: take the dirt road to the well-marked path. Continue for 10 minutes on the path to the first sector.

The Miollet walls were created by various alpine guides. It is mainly roche moutonnée by the glacier with cracks, crimps and jugs. There are easier routs along the path, ideal for beginners, while the left sector has steeper and more athletically challenging routes. Rock quality is excellent as well as the bolting, never too far apart.
The activity requires technical experience. Alpine guide assistance is recommended.

Descent: Climbers belay down on 60 meter cords or abseil down the few multi-pitch routes.

Minimum, maximum and average route difficulty from 3a to 7c, average 6b.

Other rock walls in the area: Le Gare - Valgrisenche.

This is the twin waterfall to the right of Revers; a little less difficult compared to its neighbour but equally good. It is dedicated to the “Professor” Patrick Gabarrou, who attended the opening on the day after the climb of the Cascatone di Planaval (this time without E. Marlier). To the right of the waterfall – on the big overhang bordered by stalactites – there is a difficult dry-tooling site created by E. Marlier (fix).

Level: II/4
Length: 150 m
First ascent: N. Berzi, P. Gabarrou, G. Maspes 1995
Altitude: 1700 m
Exposure: West
Coordinates: Lon.: 7,07907 Lat.: 45,656883 - UTM (ED50) - X: 350423,6 Y: 5057919,07

L1: gully with generally fine ice and almost vertical sections. Sometimes soft. 55 metres. Belay on rock to the left (fix).
L2: constant and sustained wall with a vertical sections. 45 metres. Belay on rock to the left (fix).
L3: good vertical pillar followed by a still sustained icy dihedral angle. 30 metres. Belay on rock after the difficulty (fix).
L4: easy short length to exit on the summit’s forest. 20 metres. Belay on tree.

Descent: abseiling along the ice climb.

Text and photos taken from Effimeri barbagli (M. Giglio, 2014), the complete guide to ice climbs in Aosta Valley.

From the Chalet de l’Epée refuge, take the alta Via 2 trail (AV2) which goes up to Col Fenêtre across meadows and alpine stone terrain.

From the fork before the hamlet of Usellières, where the Valgrisenche paved road comes to an end, take the dirt road that runs alongside the stream and leads to the pastures of Tsalé and Saxe Savoie. From here, continue along route 12, which leads to the Bezzi refuge. Now continue along trail 12C, which, on the orographic right of the stream, goes up the slopes of Grande Traversière,.Bassac Sud and Déré until it reaches the pass.

From Valgrisenche, continue along the paved road that leads to Bonne. Go past this village and ignoring the dirt road on the right for Arp Vieille, you come to another crossroad near Rognettaz Désot and Damon, where you can leave the car.
Ignore the branch of the road that goes down to Usellières, take the branch on the right to Grand’Alpe. Continue along the dirt road signposted 14 and follow it until it ends. From here, continue on the right along trail 14, until you come to Lago San Grato.

The itinerary starts from Rognettaz Desot hamlet, along the road that from Bonne reaches Surrier in the higher part of Valgrisenche at the end of the dam’s lake.
The gravel road starts just before the point where the municipal road begins to go downwill. The itinerary reaches then Grand’Alpe hamlet and continues in the long San Grato valley. You’ll see the typical long pasture houses of Tramouail and later you’ll arrive to the fork for San Grato lake and Col du Mont.

The itinerary starts from La Frassy hamlet, that you can reach leaving the regional road near Gerbelle hamlet and moving to the right bank of the stream.
The path, entirely on gravel road, along wide hairpin bends and through larch woods, reaches Verconey Damon hamlet from where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama on the valley that sweeps over the mountains opposite and the Beauregard dam.

From the fork before the hamlet of Usellières, where the Valgrisenche paved road comes to an end, take the dirt road that runs alongside the stream and leads to the pastures of Tsalé and Saxe Savoie. From here, continue along route 12, which leads to the Bezzi refuge.

After leaving Surrier parking lot, take the almost flat path that follows a gravel road that enters the valley along Dora of Valgrisenche torrent.
After about 10 minutes don’t consider the fork on the left for Chalet de l’Epée mountain hut and continue straight on until the end of the gravel road where a narrow and steep path leads to the mountain hut.
Along the walk you can enjoy a beautiful landscape full of flowers, waterfalls and streams.

From Valgrisenche, continue along the paved road that leads to Bonne. Go past this village and ignoring the dirt road on the right for Arp Vieille, you come to another crossroad near Rognettaz Désot and Damon, where you can leave the car.

Ignore the branch of the road that goes down to Usellières, take the branch on the right to Grand’Alpe. Now follow the dirt road signposted 13 and go to the end of it. Continue on the left along route 13 to Col du Mont.

From Usellières hamlet take the gravel road with signpost n.12 that goes up towards Bezzi mountain hut.
After about 10 minutes, always on gravel road, turn left and follow the path n.9A (and 10) towards Chalet de l’Epée.
Once you arrive at Arolla mountain pastures, leave the gravel road and turn right. The path crosses the monumental forest and reaches Mont Forchat mountain pasture in Invergnau valley.

From Vieux Menthieu hamlet, after the Valgrisenche centre, follow the signs for Rifugio degli Angeli Mountain Hut, taking route n.16.
The path first crosses a coniferous wood and then comes out in the wide high-altitude pastures of Arp Vieille, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view on mountains and glaciers of the other side of the valley.

Day one
From Usellières, follow the farm road, closed to unauthorised traffic, that enters the valley. After a couple hundred meters you’ll find a road on you left that rises to Mont Forciaz. The road soon enters a wood, winding in wide curves. Taking the left fork for Alp l’Epée, continue on your right to Mont Forciaz where the road ends.
Continue on the path to the right that winds through the pastures on the right bank of the stream. Continue on the moraine to the valley scattered with sediment. The path is concealed at times. After you leave the valley, turn slightly to the right to the moraine ridge and follow it - lastly on easy rocks - to the Ravelli camp.
Day two
From the camp, continue up the moraine that ends on the right branch of the Invergnan glacier. Continue south-east on the steep glacier, careful of the crevasses. Hug the rocks on the north-west spur to the steep slope that leads to Colle della Grande Rousse. From the pass, turn to your left and climb the rocky south ridge which has two cliffs (a III level climb), and the difficult climb to the northern peak.

Descent down the upward itinerary.

This itinerary requires experience of high mountains and it is recommended that you get a mountain guide to accompany you.

Day one
From Usellières, follow the farm road, closed to unauthorised traffic, to the Saxe Savoie mountain pasture. Continue along the east path that hugs the right bank of the stream and crosses the narrow part of the valley where you will usually find a small snowfield. Climb up the pastures and where you’ll find the Bezzi hut after the grassy rises.
Day two
From the hut, take the path with several hairpins that climbs the slope behind the hut to the Piano del Vaudet. At the edge of this grassy and stone covered area, leave the path and follow a watershed to the moraine on the left edge of the Bassac glacier. Climb the rocks that rise to altitude 2,870 m where the glacier starts. Still on the rocks, keeping to the left of the crevasses, you’ll reach a wide gap at altitude 3,414 m between Grande Traversière and the south Bassac peak. From the depression, cross the easy snow and then rock ridge to the top.

Descent down the upward itinerary.

This itinerary requires experience of high mountains and it is recommended that you get a mountain guide to accompany you.

Day one
Leave your car at the tunnel exit on the road for Usellières that hugs the right bank of the Beauregard basin and take the farm road that climbs towards the Plontaz basin pastures. At the fork, keep to your right until you find the hairpin where, again on your right, a path enters the woods. Continue along this marked path that carves a diagonal and cross the bridge over the stream that originates in the pass above. You’ll finally reach Alpe l’Epée and the nearby Chalet de l’Epée hut after several hairpins.
Day two
From the hut, turn immediately to the left and climb the wide route that enters the pass, hugging the stream, Higher up, the path crosses the stream and, after the pasture, continues towards the Vallone del Bouc. Continue along the stream on the Alta Via n. 2 path in Valle d’Aosta until you pass the rocky ledge at altitude 2670 on the opposite bank. Leaving the path for Col Fenêtre, pass the stream to the Bouc glacier moraine and work the slope that becomes suddenly steep. This will take you to the final rocks, about one hundred meters and easy to cross to the peak.

Descent down the upward itinerary.

This itinerary requires experience of high mountains and it is recommended that you get a mountain guide to accompany you.

Take the road that leads to Usellières along the left-hand side of the valley to the fork for Arp Vieille: turn right and follow the snow-covered farm road (often beaten) that climbs with a couple of bends to a wooden panel that points to the left to Arp Vieille - Forcla de Bré.
The path gives breathtaking views of Pointe de Feleumaz and Becca di Tos (on the other side of the valley) as well as the Pointes de Ormelune on the valley floor. You’ll reach the Bochat mountain pasture after a couple of bends.
Cross the pasture and start on the series of curves that rapidly climb a hundred meters to the mouth of the basin under Mont d’Arp Vielle. The settings slowly change: the sparse larch woods are left behind, opening onto a short level crossed by several hair-pin turns where you will start to glimpse the Meillares ruins. You’re nearing the end. After Meillares, follow the farm road first towards the Mont d’Arp Vielle peaks and then turn right to the Arp Vielle houses.
Continue along the summer path, climbing the ridge on the left to its peak where you’ll find the Capitano Crova hut houses.

Continue along the lane leading to Usellières going alongside the artificial lake of Beauregard. The first part of the route is amost flat and after going through a tunnel carved in the rock, you reach the junction for Rocher and from here you start to climb.
You turn left and start to climb along a snowy track often beaten by ski-moutaineers on their way home. After four hairpin bends you reach a junction: you turn right following the directions towards Plontaz and Quattro Denti. You enter a wood of mainly larch trees making your way along a lengthy, almost straight section; after going past a avalanche mound, you reach a splendid clearing below the abandoned Alpine pastures of Bouque, which you come to after taking a long bend to the left. Once past Bouque, you enter the wood again and climb up the ridge taking a number of hairpin bends until you reach the turn-off for the refuge: you follow the directions for Epée leaving behind the path followed as far as here.
Following the track, which is generally visible, you enter the Bois de Mugner among some imposing larch trees and a few red spruce trees. This stretch, which is slightly uphill, is a mixture of easy level sections and some not-so-easy transverse sections. Gradually you begin to go round the slopes of the Truc de la Seyaz emerging from the wood in view of the summer road which climbs up from Usellières. You take another brief section across the mountainside, entering the snowy bed of the Torrent de Bouque, which you climb along to the foot of the Epée. Your destination is now almost in sight: you make your way across the level area below and finally come to the Chalet de l’Epée.

Park the car just after the hamlet of Bonne, carry on along the road heading towards the valley basin, then take the estate road for Arp Vieille on the right. Follow it and at the first fork, head to the left. Pass the Alpi Meillares and then leave the Alpe Vieille on the right. Head to the left and start climbing the slopes initially gentle then steeper in places, until you come to the saddle close to military remains. Carry on up the slopes keeping to the right on the eastern side and you will reach the peak.
Descend the upward itinerary.

Head up the slopes on the east from Usellière, pass close to the Arolla mountain pasture and immerse yourself in the forest still heading eastwards. The slopes become increasingly steep; head round a rocky crag on the right and you will come to the attractive plains up above. Leave the mountain pasture of Mont Forciaz on your left and carry on following the basin valley. Pass by a clearly visible moraine on your right and head up in the direction of a vast pass (in the second part of the itinerary, it is on the glacier). From here along a short, steeper stretch you will come to the vast peak dorsal.
Descend the upward itinerary.

Park your car in the hamlet of Planaval and follow the farm road that climbs behind it. Cross to your left to the Orfeuille mountain pasture. Continue the climb on the slopes behind it, keeping to the left, to the plateaus above. Cross to your right and follow the unmarked path to the rocky ledges to reach the glacier. Continue South-West until you reach the base of Château Blanc’s steep North slope. Climb it to the ridge to reach the summit.
Descent down the upward itinerary.

Park your car at the beginning of the farm road that leads to Col du Mont (sign).
Follow the road that leads to the Grand Alp chalet. Cross the stream (often over the metallic beams) and follow the main valley towards Col du Mont, highly visible at the end of the valley. When the peaks on the left are gentler, climb leaving a “Half Pipe” groove on your right. Continue climbing a bit to your left until you reach the upper plateaus. Cross them to the right passing to altitude 2,988 m. Follow the border ridge and keep climbing as far as you can with your skis. Continue on foot on the ridge and then on the West side along the steep but short groove that leads to the summit.
Descent down the upward itinerary.

Day one:
From Bonne, continue along the road towards the end of the valley and take the farm road on the right for Arp Vieille. Follow it and turn left at the first fork. You’ll find the Ricci chalet after the Meillares and Vieille alps. Climb the steeper slopes on the right to the one on the left. Continue North to the hill which, with a small drop, leads to the Degli Angeli hut.
Day two:
Cross the slope heading for the Morion glacier. Climb the steep mandatory route, then towards the right, to the hidden canyon that leads to the Rutor hill (were the old Deffeyes hut used to be). Go slightly around the peak and climb the steep final slope.
Descent along the upwards itinerary.

This itinerary requires experience of high mountains and it is recommended that you get a mountain guide to accompany you.

From the parking area continue on the paved road until you reach the “magazzino delle fontine”, pass it for about ten meters towards the left where you will find the first footholds. You climb a vertical wall, move to the right and continue on a series of ledges, some of these are aerial but almost always leaning. There is only one part of about 2 meters that requires a bit of resistence on a sheer drop. Once at 1930 meters you reach trail 17 that goes down to the right towards Valgrisenche (1° escape route). This deviation takes you right behind the “magazzino delle fontine”. Instead, continue uphill on the path to the left where you will find the second part of the ferrata at 1950 meters. There are many exposed parts here as well that climb up on the nice equipped plaques with alot of footholds. At 2180 meters you will find another escape route. It is the path that takes to the Grandes Laures (huge plain with a great view). You can also take the steep trail that joins with path 17 that leads back to Valgrisenche. Instead continue to the right on the slightly sloping path, until you once again fasten yourself to the plaques that go up the third part of the ferrata characterized by exposed parts and with difficulty levels similar to the first part. At 2350 meters you will find another escape route, the link to path 18 that leads to La Bethaz. Instead you continue first on the wall and then on the splendid crest to arrive at the peak of Becca. Continue by foot and soon you will arrive at a repeater, the real peak. To go back you continue uphill until you arrive at a small hill where you descend with the help of wires. You will then find path 18 that, towards the right, in 2 hours, leads to the village of La Bethaz. Going back to the state road to the right, towards the dam, for 2.5 km you reach the area of the “magazzino delle fontine” (or fontina cheese warehouse).
To safely cross the ferrata we recommend that you be accompanied by a mountain guide.