Chenal – Mario Bezzi Refuge

From Bourg-Saint-Maurice, follow the RN 90 then the D902 to Sainte-Foy. Drive through the village towards Val d’Isère. Continue for 8 km to Les Pigettes, then turn left just before the avalanche barrier. Drive up to Chenal – the end of the road accessible by car and the starting point.

(S) From the Chenal car park, walk up the road to the^second hairpin bend.

(1) Leave the road and continue straight on to the hamlet of La Combaz. A path climbs to the right, heading due east. Pass by the base of the climbing rocks and arrive at Le Monal, which you cross. Continue out of the village past the cheese dairy and reach the start of the path on the left-hand side heading towards Le Clou.

(2) Follow the path which climbs through the larch forest; ignore the path branching off to the right, join the track and, after a short climb, reach the hilltop offering a remarkable view of Le Monal and Mont Pourri.

(3) Carry on, join the pastoral track, follow it and pass the Saint Jaques memorial; stay on the track above the Clou dam to reach the Chalets des Balmes, which you pass through, and reach the crossroads at the end of the track.

(4) Follow the path on the right-hand side to reach the Col du Rocher Blanc.

(5) Continue along the path leading down into the valley to reach the Mario Bezzi Refuge (E).