1 day (Monday 30 December):
• 1.00 pm: meeting at the parking lot located in Frachey; presentation with guides and other participants, load on the funicular of the luggage to be transported to the refuge and to follow short transfer to Saint-Jaques, site of departure of the excursion, with the organizers’ vans. Pleasant excursion to reach the refuge along an easy route that develops in the coniferous forest above the village of Saint-Jacques.
Walking time: approx. 2h 30min. Difference in height +: 400 m Length: about 2 km. (The times include breaks to take pictures, for explanations of the guides and for every other need, need or request from the participants)

• 17.30: welcome aperitif with typical Valle d’Aosta products

• 6.30 pm: at dusk / evening, if the weather permits, observation of the sky from a privileged place!

• 19.30: Dinner at the refuge Ferraro
2 day (Sunday 31 December):

• 09.30 am: day excursion “The plans of Verra and Il Lago Blu”, an excursion that allows you to reach, after passing through a coniferous forest, at first the Pian di Verra Inferiore (2.069 m asl), a magnificent flat valley at feet of the homonymous glacier, one of the most famous and noble destinations for hiking with snowshoes in Valle d’Aosta. From here, depending on the weather conditions and / or the snow cover, we can reach the Blue Lake at 2,220 m asl, clearly frozen in winter and, after a short journey backwards, following the easy route of a country road. Verra Superiore (2,388 m asl). During the excursion we will have a picnic lunch break. Return to the hut at about 4.30pm.
Walking time: approx. 7h 00 min. lunch break included –
Difference in altitude: + 400 m, Length: about 8 km. (Travel times
include breaks to take pictures, for explanations of guides and for
any other need, need or request from the participants)

N.B. In case of need, two distinct groups of hikers will be trained according to the level of training of each one. Each group will be guided by a guide. In case of bad weather the program can be changed by the organizers and lunch will be consumed at the Ferraro refuge

• 8.00 pm: New Year’s Eve dinner at the Ferraro refuge
3 giorno (lunedì 1 Gennaio):

• ore 8.00: consegna bagagli da riportare al parcheggio di loc. Frachey. In alternativa, i bagagli possono essere consegnati la sera prima nel luogo di deposito indicato dai gestori del rifugio

• ore 10.00: attività “In montagna con la testa”: brevi nozioni sull’utilizzo del materiale di autosoccorso (Artva, pala e sonda) in ambiente innevato e simulazione di una ricerca in valanga per mettere in pratica i concetti acquisiti.

oppure

breve escursione con le ciaspole di 2h ore circa nei pressi del rifugio

• ore 12.00: rientro in rifugio e ritiro del pranzo al sacco (in caso di brutto tempo pranzo presso il rifugio Ferraro prima del rientro)

• ore 12.30: inizio escursione (con pranzo al sacco al Pian di Verra) di rientro: Rif Ferraro – Pian di Verra inferiore – Blanchard – Saint Jacques. Bellissimo itinerario ad anello, che nella prima parte, fino a Pian di Verra Inferiore coincide con quello fatto il giorno precedente, che ci riporterà a Saint-Jaques dopo essere passati in località Fiéry e Blanchard. Tempo di percorrenza: ca. 2h 30min. Dislivello: - 400 m Lunghezza: 5 km circa. (I tempi di percorrenza includono le pause per scattare foto, per le spiegazioni delle guide e per ogni altra esigenza, necessità o richiesta da parte dei partecipanti)

• ore 16.00 circa: ritiro bagagli presso funicolare in loc. Frachey e fine attività.

Suitable for adults and children (from 10 years)