Cabane de Chanrion - Crête Sèche refuge

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This description differs from the classic Combins tour. This route is not recommended in bad weather. It offers an alternative off the beaten track via the Refuge de Crête Seiche. The atmosphere is alpine, requiring a good level of experience on stony paths and snowfields. The distance may seem short and the elevation gain low, but it is a difficult stage.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: A route around the Combins massif

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.44 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 676 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 746 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,934 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,310 m
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Photos

Crête Seiche Pass.
Crossing the torrent.
Starting from the Chanrion Hut.

Description of the walk

(S) From the Cabane Chanrion, let yourself slide down to the rhythm of the marmots' whistles. After about 200 m heading south, you will reach a crossroads of paths

(1) Take the path on the left and join the Route de Mauvoisin towards Itro Neu. Take it on the left and continue downhill until you reach a large building just before two small lakes.

(2) Leave the road here and turn almost 180° onto a wide, almost horizontal path. After a long traverse, you will reach the dam on the Ruisseau de la Dranse de Bagnes.

(3) Turn again almost 180° to the right to begin a long climb up the Vallon d'Ayace, following the left bank of a stream flowing down from the Crête Sèche Glacier. Reach the foot of the pass and finish the climb with a final rocky and very steep section. Use your hands to help you at times to reach the Col de Crête Sèche.

(4) First descend into a ravine to Plan De Sabbia.

(5) Continue across alpine meadows to reach the Crête Sèche refuge (E), your destination for the day.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 2,461 m - Cabane de Chanrion
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 2,431 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.12 - alt. 2,341 m - Crossroads - Building
  4. 3 : km 2.66 - alt. 2,384 m - Dam on the Dranse de Bagnes
  5. 4 : km 6.16 - alt. 2,886 m - Col de Crête Sèche (2896)
  6. 5 : km 7.51 - alt. 2,603 m - Pian della Sabbia
  7. E : km 8.43 - alt. 2,385 m - Rifugio Crête Sèche

Notes

(4) The Col de Crête Sèche marks the border between Switzerland and Italy.

Worth a visit

Other walks in the area

Walking Crête Sèche Refuge - Ollomont

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