stage 4 of the TMB

(S) From the Elisabetta refuge, descend towards the ruins and take the 4x4 track that descends towards the valley. After a few hairpin bends (where marmots can be seen), the track becomes straight and reaches a flat area.

(1) Follow Lake Combal (marshes) on the right. The valley narrows.
Just before a small bridge, take the path that climbs quite steeply on the right up the mountainside towards Arp Vieille Inférieure and then Supérieure. The slope then levels out a little and, after going around Mont Favre on its western side, the route continues along a very pleasant path with beautiful views of the Mont Blanc massif (from left to right: the Estelette, Lée Blanche, Miage, Brouillard, Frêney and Brenva glaciers and a whole series of peaks).
Further on, you pass under some ski lifts (more marmots). At a fork, take the path on the left that descends into the woods towards the Refuge de Maison Vieille.

(2) At the refuge, be careful not to take the wrong path: the TMB starts on the right-hand track (towards the south). We took the ski track heading north-east towards the village of Pra Neyron. The descent is quite steep and therefore unpleasant.

(3) You will reach Plan Chécrouit (where the Courmayeur cable car arrives). Continue to follow the ski trail. A little further down, you will find the TMB markings, which follow part of the ski trail. At a right-hand bend, the TMB leaves the trail via a small path on the left into the woods.

(4) You will reach Dolonne with its pretty streets and houses, which will cause you to lose sight of the TMB trail once again, but don't worry: after crossing the bridge over the Doire, the road climbs up and passes under a bridge.

(E) You then arrive at Courmayeur and its bus station.
From there, you can continue the TMB towards the Bertone refuge, or (as we did, given how tired we were) take a bus towards Val Ferret and get off at the 'Les grandes Jorasses' campsite in Plampincieux.

Bus (€1.80/person) from Courmayeur to Plamplincieux
Plamplincieux: Les Grandes Jorasses campsite - £6.00/person + £4.50/tent + £0.50 per shower token for 12 litres - pizzas available on site and grocery store).