Some snowshoes itineraries

Walk along the road following the bends that lead to Pointier: just beyond you’ll find the start of path 8 on your right. Take the path entering the fir woods to another mountain pasture and then turn onto the road that leads right for several hundred meters to another path. Climb the snow-covered Plan Taredaz field to the Vorbé holiday farm. Here return to the snow-covered road and take the wide turn to the left to the foot of the Novella chalet: turn right and climb the snowy slope to the road near Parc. Continue on the road that follows the left curve of the ledge to Plan Débat and, just beyond, the Nôtre Dame de la Neige cross.
Leave the road turning left to climb the beautiful snow-covered slope, keeping the watershed on your right until you reach Tsa de Champillon. The end is in sight. Climb the gentle ridge until you finally reach the Champillon Refuge.

Follow route 6 “Vallone di Menouve”, along the road transformed in the recess the Super Saint-Bernard slope that quickly leads to the fork for Quaye. Climb the slope that crosses the lower part of the Menouve valley, entering the larch woods that provides a beautiful glimpse of Mont Velan. Cross the two long bends to the fork for Col de Champillon. Ignoring the fork on the right, cross several turns (some segments make the crossing a bit difficult) to then hug the lower edge of the woods to a fork: turn left and continue to the Combe German mountain pasture. Climb the short slope on the right of the mountain pasture, turning right to the Plan Bois buildings. After the houses, return into the woods until you hit the slope coming from Essanaz. Turning to your right and leaving the signposts for snow shoes, continue along the almost flat segment to the Menouve mountain pasture that leads to the steepest part of the route. Climb the short but rugged peak that leads to the farm road in view of the not so far off Tracaoudette mountain pasture. Continue along the unmarked path towards the pasture and cross to Tracaoudette. From the pasture, continue along the slope crossing the most difficult part of the route: you’ll cross rather steep peaks that require good snow stability. Snow drifts often make this part of the route a bit problematic. After the difficult part, you’ll near the Tsa de Menouve buildings: climb the valley towards the base where the Nord de Menouve hill already appears. Next, turn a bit to the left, climbing the last peaks that separate you from the top. After cutting across the farm road, you’ll first reach the buildings under the mountain pasture and, finally, Tsa Nuova.

Proceed along the snow-covered road prohibited to traffic for a couple of turns until you reach a few typical houses: turn right, ignoring the nature path that continues straight. Continue along the slope that crosses a thick larch wood. You’ll reach the fork for Cour de Ry after a slight ascent: leave the descent on your right and continue along the slope until you exit the woods. The Vercosa houses are just a few minutes from here.
After Vercosa, the slope turns slightly to the left to climb to a ledge under the Crotal alps. The road, with a series of small turns, crosses the pasture and leads to the Gressoney valley side: there are interesting views of the Dames de Challand. After a straightaway, turn right to the village of Leretta.
Without descending to the houses below, turn left and climb the short field near the stone house. Just beyond you’ll enter a larch woods and, moving to your left, the base of the Leretta ridge: this part is rather steep (be careful of frozen snow) and leads to the Punta Leretta ridge peak.

After leaving your car, continue on your left along the snow-covered road which turns right after a couple of minutes: a view of Pointe de Chaligne and its welcoming peaks suddenly appears. Climb the slope to the fork: turn left following the signs for path 3A. Climb the wide slope to quickly reach the Mendey mountain pasture, go around it on the left and follow the slope to another fork: first turn right and then, after about thirty meters, turn left taking the clear mule track.
The track climbs the slope hugging some sparse larch woods to the slope under the Roncaille mountain pasture. Take the track that passes under the pasture and leave it, after about 150 m, to head West, ignoring the path on the left. You will soon enter a larch and red fir wood, climbing a small valley on the left to the snow-covered farm road. Cross the road for the first time and continue South, crossing the road two more times. The climb becomes slightly steeper until you find the road that leads to the alp: you can see the end from here. Just a few more minutes and you’ll reach the pasture and Chaligne refuge.

Walk along the lane which, along a series of turns, goes uphill cutting the rough rocky section at the narrow start of the Scheity valley. After about 1 hour, you come across the start to a mule track (marked with an A on a yellow background). Continue along the mule track until you reach the Walser settlements of Tschukkjni and Benecoadi: the climb becomes more gradual and you emerge from the wood.
You go past a junction and again start climbing up the ridge between sparse larch trees and low bushes; after a few turns you continue across the mountainside going southwards towards your destination. Make your way across a small settlement and again you find some handrails that help with your orientation, climbing up the last ridge which leads you to a point opposite the spectacular Bühl rascards: turn left and then you soon come to the small characteristic church of San Grato - Chröiz (1667 m).
You start the downhill path, by taking the farm road that begins near the last group of buildings at the top of the village. Follow the path until you reach the starting point.

From Vieu, follow the paved road to the fork for Chamois: ignore it and continue along the road. After a wide left-hand bend you’ll find a barrier that indicates the start of the snow show route. Climb the road that leads to Col Pilaz through the fir woods that every so often provides exciting views of Mont Zerbion and Mont Tantané. After the steeper part of the road, the path continues practically straight. You are now on the border of the town of Chamois and, every now and again, you’ll catch a glimpse of the outline of the Matterhorn through the tree branches. After the highest elevation (2005 m), you’ll start to descent to a fork: ignore the road that continues straight and turn right continuing to descend to Col Pilaz (1975 m). Start descending leaving a few typical chalets on your right and continue along the cross-country ski track. After an initial downwards section, the track veers left towards Lake Croux that you’ll reach without seeing it. Leave the lake chalets on your right and finish the descent by taking the farm road: take your first right fork and cross to a mountain pasture where you’ll find a second fork: turn left here. You’ve reached the end. You can already see the ski lifts and La Magdeleine church beneath you. After two more bends you’ll reach the end of the road prohibited to traffic and the end of the snow. From here, head towards the houses in Artaz and the starting point that closes the ring.

Make your way along the farm road that leads to the Alpine pastures. Cross the Challancin pastures and then climb around three wide hairpin bends upto the Ponteilles Alpine pastures. Continue along the road and then after about 150 m you come to the junction for Col de Bard: turn right but not before taking a look at the panoramic view towards Mont Blanc.
Climb up along the farm track which goes through a thick fir-wood and make your way to Arpeilles: from here you take a path that proceeds through the wood half-way up the hillside. After an initial gentle stretch, you start climbing up the ridge-divide with the Comba di Vertosan; make your way through the very dense woods and every now and then you can catch some interesting panoramic views over the peaks that tower above the area around Morgex: from Mont Paramont to Mont Crammont. You go across a clearing, where other tracks point towards the top of the ridge which leads to Punta Fetita; you continue going across the hillside and re-enter the woods. After about 15 minutes the track becomes steeper and climbs rapidly around a few hairpin bends. Then you start to walk normally again, without too steep a climb, and after about 1h 30 mins you come to Col de Bard: from up here you can look down along the Comba di Vertosan. Don’t take the path to Punta Fetita but continue on towards the right in the direction of Court de Bard going through some beautiful surroundings. The path goes gently downwards and then climbs gradually towards our destination: the panoramic view over the surrounding peaks from Grivola to the Mont Blanc massif is quite magnificent. After a lovely walk lasting about half-an-hour you come to the rounded peak of Court de Bard (2261m).

From the last parking lot, carry your snow shoes for about 150 m until you find the farm road that starts on your right: you can put on snow shoes here.
The first part, slightly ascending, continues almost straight to the La Lié chalet. The path gains altitude from the chalet with a series of bends that cross the beautiful larch and red fir woods. You’ll find a few renovated chalets during the climb while the impressive pyramid shape of Aiguille de Chambave appears before your. Ignore the slopes you find on your right to quickly climb to altitude 2000 m near Plan Bellard. The woods become thinner as you reach the snow-covered fields under the mountain pastures: just a few more minutes and you’re in Les Ors desot.
Leaving the pastures, head to your right to the farm road slope: continue North-East heading towards Tête des Fra, crossing the slope until you reach the magnificent ring of snow under Col Fetita. Climb the snow-covered slope keeping to the right bank of the Pissorio stream. Along the route you can enjoy some breathtaking views of the rugged Grande Rochère and Aiguille de Bonalex peaks. Continue across the wide snow-covered slope to the foot of col Fetita (only cross this segment in excellent snow conditions). From here, turn left and cross the practically flat route to Tramail des Ors.

You’ll find a fork with a signpost in Pierre Carrée (Pera Carà): follow the directions for Cretaz, path 2B, walking a short way along a paved road. Passing near a panel indicating the winter route, you’ll find a sign that prohibits road traffic where you can put on your snow shoes. Climb the snow-covered slope into the larch and red fir woods. There are some signs along the route that explain some aspects of winter hiking: from nature to safety ones. Climb the slope in a long series of turns that reduce the gradient. You’ll slowly exit the woods to a plain, just beyond you’ll find a wide turn to the left to a straightaway that leads to the small village of Cretaz.

From the parking lot, follow the signs for Lake d’Arpy. Enter the fir woods to the fork between paths 15 and 16: continue on the summer path 15 to the left to Lake d’Arpy.
Continue around the snow-covered lake on the right, starting to climb through the sparse larch wood. Follow any marking you find to the first rather steep peak. This leads to a delightful plain where you can see your final destination. Cross it, switching-back to take in all the pleasures of this winter hike, until you reach the last peak before the hill. Climb the bends in the ridge to the fortifications, usually covered in snow: a last push and you’re finally at the Col de la Croix.

The route should only be taken in the spring and in stable snow conditions.