The Tour of the Combins Six days around a renowned plays of exeptional beauty
T R E KKI N G
SWITZERLAND | VALAIS
THE TOUR OF THE COMBINS
ZURICH
GENÈVE
SUMMARY
THE TOUR OF THE COMBINS BY JULES-HENRI GABIOUD
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INFORMATION The Tour of the Combins at a glance
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Useful information
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Accommodation
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Useful addresses
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THE GRAND COMBIN MASSIF
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STAGE 1 | From Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Cabane de Mille
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STAGE 2 | From the Cabane de Mille to the Cabane FXB, Panossière 20 STAGE 3 | From the Cabane FXB, Panossière to the Cabane de Chanrion 24 STAGE 4 | From the Cabane de Chanrion to Champillon Refuge 30 STAGE 5 | From Champillon Refuge to Saint-Rhémy
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STAGE 6 | From Saint-Rhémy to Bourg-Saint-Pierre
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THE HIKING GUIDE’S FAVOURITES 48
Produced by
suisse-itinerance.ch
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THE TOUR DES COMBINS PAR JULES-HENRI GABIOUD
Jules-Henri Gabioud grew up in La Fouly (Valais), at the foot of Mont Dolent, 3820 m above sea level, on the border between Switzerland, France and Italy. He has run in trails in Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain and Nepal, frequently appearing on the podium. Jules-Henri is an accomplished hiking guide and winter sports instructor with an ability to communicate his love and knowledge of life in the mountains. Suisse Itinérance is delighted with Jules-Henri’s involvement in the making of this topo and in the collection as a whole. Feel his passion for the mountains through the descriptions, make the most of these moments on the trail and do not hesitate to contact Alps Xperience for their offers on organised treks !
THE TOUR OF THE COMBINS AT A GLANCE
6 h 25
6 h 55
8 h 50
8 h 30
6 h 15
5 h 10
PLACE NAME
FACILITIES
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE
1
1632 m
CREUX DU MÂ
2
1975 m
1h30
0h30
ALPAGE DE BOVEIRE
3
2230 m
0h45
0h40
ALPAGE DU CŒUR
4
2233 m
0h45
0h40
LA VUARDETTE
5
2453 m
0h50
1h15
CABANE DE MILLE
7
2472 m
1h20
1h55
SERVAY
8
2062 m
1h25
1h25
CABANE DE BRUNET
10
2103 m
1h30
2h05
CORBASSIÈRE FOOTBRIDGE
12
2300 m
2h20
0h40
CABANE FXB PANOSSIÈRE
13
2669 m
1h00
0h40
COL DES OTANES
14
2846 m
0h55
2h20
PAZAGNOU
16
2200 m
1h30
1h10
1841 m
(0h30)
(0h45)
(VARIANTE) HÔTEL DE MAUVOISIN ALPAGE DE LA LIA
1h05
2115 m
1h15
1h15
TSESSETTE
18
2517 m
1h40
2h15
PONT DU LANCET
19
2040 m
1h40
1h00
CABANE DE CHANRION
20
2462 m
1h30
1h10
ALPAGE DE CHARMOTANE
21
2255 m
0h55
1h10
FENÊTRE DURAND
22
2797 m
1h50
2h50
ALPAGE DE BY
26
2180 m
2h00
3h05
ALPAGE DE CHAMPILLON
28
2250 m
3h10
0h35
REFUGE CHAMPILLON
30
2465 m
0h55
0h35
COL DE CHAMPILLON
31
2709 m
1h00
3h25
PONTEILLES DESOT
32
1809 m
1h45
2h00
ALPAGE DE BARASSON
34
1865 m
2h30
2h00
SAINT-RHÉMY
35
1619 m
1h40
1h20
CANTINA FONTEINTE
36
2203 m
1h55
0h45
COL DU GRAND SAINT-BERNARD
38
2473 m
1h00
1h45
ALPAGE DE LA PIERRE
40
2039 m
1h00
1h35
TOULES DAM
42
1810 m
1h20
1h20
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE
43
1632 m
1h10
5
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FROM BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE TO THE CABANE DE MILLE
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3
2
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STAGE 1
STAGE PROFILE 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000
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2
3
4
5
7
From Bourg-Saint-Pierre to the Cabane de Mille
5 h 10 | 11.9 km |
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE 3 h
1
1060 m |
TO THE ALPAGE DU CŒUR
300 m
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From the centre of Bourg-Saint-Pierre, follow a small tarmac road going northeast through a tunnel under the Grand Saint-Bernard pass road. Continue on this road and leave the village heading north towards the chapel of Notre Dame de Lorette. From the chapel, walk east and follow a rough off road track climbing through the forest. Follow this road with hairpin bends and cross two streams. The trail climbs through pastures to the Alpage (cowhut) de Creux du Ma 2 . From the alpage 2 , follow the same route northeast round two hairpin bends to a crossroads 3 . From there 3 , continue northeast and cross the Allèves stream. The road climbs to the north and then goes east. Shortly after this change of direction, leave the road, cross the stream and follow the trail on the other side. The path climbs gradually northwest through pastures and rocks reaching a flatter part before the alpage du Coeur.
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A demanding but unforgettable six day trek around the Grand Combin massif (4314 m) and its neighbours the Petit Combin, the Combin de Corbassière, Boveire, Meitin, Valsorey and the Tsessette. The Tour des Combins : alpine trails between Switzerland and Italy with intense and vigourous stages that offer varied and sumptuous landscapes. Mountain accomodation, away from village life, lasting and unforgettable memories without fail.
ISBN 978-2-88341-269-9
9 782883 412699