Sport Itineraries: Gressoney-Saint-Jean

From the car park situated along the regional road 44 in the hamlet of Ondre Perletoa (a hundred meters after the village of Tschemenoal) you will find the start of path no. 6. The wide mule track will be steep up to Alpenzu Grande - Gròssalbezò (1779 m), allowing you to quickly overcome almost all the elevation gain of the entire hike. The first part of the trail goes along a forest of tall trees on the right of the waterfalls and along a long series of hairpin bends until reaching the village of Alpenzu Grande. There you will find the Alpenzu Refuge, where you can take a break. Continue along a pleasant and relatively flat route on the orographic right side of the valley towards the Monte Rosa massif. Pay attention while leaving the village, so as not to miss the right track. Take the GSW path at the fork just above the monumental maple tree near a large boulder. The route runs along the side of the mountain, crossing the alpine pastures of Schérfò (1780 m) and Schérfòròng (1814 m), where the trail reaches the highest altitude, and then begins to descend, among wide meadows, to the houses of Hòbelté (1800 m) and immediately afterwards to Alpenzu Piccolo - Léckalbezò (1806 m), another important example of traditional architecture in the Gressoney valley. After leaving the village, the mainly flat path enters a larch wood and, past a last stretch characterized by steep hairpin bends, reaches the regional road 44 at the junction to Léschelbalmò, which marks the end of the itinerary.

At the junction for Savoia castle, head right, going past the houses and take the path that goes up and then goes into the woods. The path winds its way steeply uphill, leading to a junction. Here, you take route no. 11b on the right leaving the left-hand branch, no. 11, which leads to Col Valdobbia. The path continues steeply up the mountainside until you come to another junction. Here you go left and soon you come to the Pozie mountain pastures. Then continuing along the mountainside you reach the Skearpie di Sotto pastures and then soon after, near a hollow, you come to the Skearpie di Sopra. You go over a ridge and come to the charming clearing in the Valle dei Principi, where the direction signs finish.

At the junction for Savoia castle, head right, going past the houses and take the path that goes up and then goes into the woods. Continue along the trail as it winds, up the steep step that leads to a panoramic promontory. Continue into the wood and enter Valdobbia valley. Go past the Cialfrezzo cabins below, turn left, cross the stream and go back up the valley to reach the hill and the Sottile hospice.

From the hamlet of Steina, take the mule track signposted 12.
The trail gradually moves to the right past the stream over the beautiful waterfall of Loo, which is clearly visible from the valley floor.
The trail becomes steeper and crosses the stream again before reaching the pasture of Loo Inferiore (1854 m).
At this point the valley becomes flat and, a moderate climb takes you to the cabins of Loo Superiore (2076 m).
Move left and continue past the short slopes and wide expanses down to the basin of Col Loo. When you get to an important crossroad, ignore the itineraries for Col Lazoney and the Macagno Pass, and continue along route 12, by which you easily gain the hill.

The first section of the path takes you to Lake Gover which is a short distance from the historic centre of Gressoney-Saint-Jean. If on the other hand you follow the path marked no. 15 you come to Tschemenoal which is about two km beyond Gressoney-Saint-Jean.

Accessible to disabled people in wheelchairs if accompanied.

The bivouac is situated beneath Testa Grigia.

From the main car park in Gressoney-Saint-Jean, cross the Lys stream to the right, over a large wooden bridge and then take the dirt road that leads to Tschemenoal. Cross the stream towards the left over another bridge, then go up about 300m on a paved road, until you come to the start of a path on the left. Climb up among the conifer woods, going past two waterfalls, until you reach the refuge of Alpenzù Grande. Cross the fields diagonally, until you come to Òndermòntel pasture, Alpe Loasche and from here, climb up a steep slope to get to Col Pinter. Take route 6 and go up in a series of bends, amidst clods of grass, that lead to a short but insidious traverse and a crumbling gully. You next come to the crest, from where you are just a few minutes away from the bivouac.
Possible route also departing from Gressoney-la-Trinité.

From the parking area cross the street and enter the town center. Cross the town until you reach an open space to the left. In the middle of this open space is Gover lake. Remain on the right back until you find a sign close to the private road that points towards the morainic rock that goes down from the overlooking spur. Follow that road that goes along the horse fence reaching a mule track that goes up to the left lined by a wooden fence. Follow it until you reach a trail that climbs up into the woods, (wooden sign that indicates the ferrata). The steep path climbs up into the vegetation (trailmarker 4a red or yellow and yellow stickers) until you reach another path (trailmarker 15) close to a huge stone. Continue towards the right on sloping plains until you reach the huge morainic rock. On the path, to the left, there is a sign that indicates the Jòsé Angster ferrata. The massive granite rocks climb up to the left, from the sign, and point towards a small chalet. There are a few yellow stickers or markers but you don’t necessarily have to take that path. From the chalet go the right for 7-8 meters where you will reach a path towards the right that crosses the fastenings of the Jòsé Angster ferrata. Continue on the path towards the right and once you’ve reached the edge of the diagonal wall towards the left find the first wires. Continue lert, on a steep trail until you reach the granite ledges of the spur and then continue following the steel wires that take to the mid-wall ledge. Continue on this ledge still on the trail and then directly onto granite overhangs. You turn the first edge (passage with fairly distant hand and foot hold) and then a second one that is slightly exposed. You continue to climb until you reach the last edge where you will find all the difficulties of this climb. Once round the first rocky ledge you reach a large canyon. You continue on a steep fully equipped trail until you reach a horizontal trail that joins with path 4a in ascent. You can descend to the left or reach the peak by following the trail to the right in about ten minutes.

From the parking area cross the street and enter the town center. Cross the town until you reach an open space to the left. In the middle of this open space is Gover lake. Remain on the right bank until you find a sign close to the private road that points towards the morainic rock that goes down from the overlooking spur. Follow that road that goes along the horse fence reaching a mule track that goes up to the left lined by a wooden fence. Follow it until you reach a trail that climbs up into the woods, (wooden sign that indicates the ferrata). The steep path climbs up into the vegetation (trailmarker 4a red or yellow and yellow stickers) until you reach another path (trailmarker 15) close to a huge stone. Continue towards the right on sloping plains until you reach the huge morainic rock. On the path, to the left, there is a sign that indicates the Jòsé Angster ferrata. The massive granite rocks climb up to the left, from the sign, and points towards a small chalet. There are a few yellow stickers or markers but you don’t necessarily have to take that path. From the chalet go the right for 7-8 meters where you will reach a path towards the right that crosses the fastenings of the Jòsé Angster ferrata. You climb up a series of nailed plates with “U” shaped hand and foot holds. The distance between the fastenings requires great skill or resistence. After the first sequence you see the ledge at mid-wall and the wires of the ferrata dei Bambini that climb towards left. You continue vertically entering a slight dihedral close to a few ledges to the left and you pass the steep exiting wall with a small cross over to the left. You reach a small niche with a statue of the Madonna underneath a transparent triangle. There is a trestle bridge hung in midair for those who wish to stop for a few minutes. You continue on the spur with a few areas of soil and you reach the last plaque that juts out from the grassy peak a few meters away from the Italian flag. From the top you continue by passing the characteristic cottage in the back crossing a trail that leads into the woods. You pass the exit of a canal and continue downhill on slightly disconnected marked tracks. Continue following a few bends until you cross a track to the left that at first is sloping and then is all downhill and crosses the wires under the spur. It is the ferrata dei Bambini. It is possible to carefully go down the ferrata or continue along the path to the right. Both lead to the foot of the wall.
To safely cross the ferrata we recommend that you be accompanied by a mountain guide.

WALSER TRADITIONS
Wide wooden balcony, large verge…and a lot of flowers, in the windows and on the balconies. If you see houses like these at the side of the road, you have entered Walser “territory”. But the structure of the habitations is not the only idiosyncrasy of the upper Gressoney Valley. There is also an unusual dialect, different from the patois used by most of the people in Aosta Valley: It is Titsch, a parlance of German roots. The population of Walser in fact originates from Valais, from which they migrated, between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, settling here and in the adjacent Ayas Valley. The first Walser village that you encounter upon climbing the the hollow is Issime, village of ancient origins.

THE SAVOY CASTLE
Two stops in Gressoney-Saint-Jean. The first is the Savoy Castle, which you can see in the pine forest on your left. Completed at the end of the 1800’s by Queen Margherita, passionate mountaineer, stands on a panoramic terrace where you can enjoy a splendid view of the entire valley all the way to the Lyskam glacier. The second stop can be made at Gover Lake for a relaxing walk.

MONTE ROSA
Continue towards Gressoney-La-Trinité through Walser villages, pastures and woods. Monte Rosa awaits you majestically at the end of the itinerary.