If you are passionate about ski mountaineering or free ride and come by in the Aosta Valley, you can’t miss this ski mountaineering itinerary in La Thuile on Mont Valaisan, which offers a fantastic descent often in powdery and very skiable snow (at least in the first higher section) against a short and very panoramic climb. In short: the best.
Clearly to achieve all this you have to accept the compromise of making use of a lift with the ski lifts. For ski mountaineering purists it is possible also the ski climb from the valley starting from La Promise (the itinerary is the same as the one described here as the downhill itinerary): in this case the climb certainly becomes more demanding (1400 m difference in altitude), but not impossible even for those who are not too trained.
In the later season, when the road to the Piccolo San Bernardo is open, it is possible to climb to the summit also starting from the Colle del Piccolo, but this is a completely different itinerary.
Ski mountaineering in La Thuile on Mont Valaisan
Let’s proceed in order: he Monte Valaisan (or Valezan, 2891 m) is a beautiful peak located right on the Italian-French border and separates the municipality of La Thuile, in the Aosta Valley, from La Rosiére, in Savoy. To reach it ski on from La Thuile you have to get the implants and, from the arrival of the Belvedere chairlift, follow the signs towards La Rosière/Francia, until you reach Col de la Traversette (already in French territory).
From here the climb begins. Don’t be fooled by the free riders you see climbing up with skis on their shoulders: they take other itineraries, generally towards La Rosière, and only go up a few tens of metres. You put on the skins and set off in an east-southeast direction: you first overcome a slightly steeper shoulder and then continue with a series of traverses and zigzags along the Italian-French watershed, trying to reach the ridge line.
Once we reach the ridge, the summit is now in sight and within reach, while on our left it opens up the imposing and priceless spectacle of the White group: a breathtaking view. We start climbing again until we reach the last pass before the summit; here in case of heavy snow it is necessary to remove the skis, carry them on one’s shoulders and proceed on foot to overcome the steep slope of the final 30 metres. One last effort and here we are at the top!
(In case of less abundant snow it is possible to climb to the summit on skis with steep inversions and narrow lines.)
Let’s enjoy the view and we are already anticipating the descent that awaits us; the snow is often powdery given the prevailing exposure of the Ponteilles Valley to the north-northeast. Pay attention to the first stretch which almost always presents a frame towards the Vallone: lose a little altitude by remaining on the ridge, on the French side, up to the Col du Glacier, and from here choose the best passage to enter the channel below.
Once in the valley, once the steepest and potentially most dangerous section has finished, we can relax letting the skis slide on the soft snow and on the slope, sustained and constant, which guarantees optimal skiing.
A few more curves and… are we there yet? If the intention is to return towards the slopes of La Thuile, you will see on your left, right at the start of the forest, a fairly obvious path (often tracked) which, after crossing a small bridge, takes you back, with a short climb, to the slopes of La Thuile. But if the snow is powdery, don’t stop here: enter the woods that slope down towards the valley and let yourself slide, tracing free and soft curves, jumping and landing on the piles of powdery snow between one fir tree and another. The forest is never too thick and will take you one bend after another to the bottom of the valleyto emerge near the houses buried in snow in La Joux (1607 m).
The last stretch of descent from the La Joux hill to La Promise (1490 m) is on a beaten track that is still pleasant to ski. Enjoy the last curves and postpone the question until later: “And now how do I get back to the car?”. The answer is simple: skis on your shoulders, and in a quarter of an hour following the road you will be at the La Thuile cable car area. One last little effort, but it’s worth it.
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2023-12-20 08:51:01
#Ski #mountaineering #Thuile #Mont #Valaisan
