The Tour of the Combins

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

 4

 3

 2

 1

STAGE 1

STAGE PROFILE 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000

1

2

3

4

5

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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