Trek around Monte Viso in 5 days, stage 1

Superb hike. Climb through the larches to reach the pass with a beautiful view of Italy. I recommend spending a night at the refuge to enjoy the Italian cuisine. On the way back, take the path on the right at the pass to make a loop. Beautiful descents

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The welcome at the Jervis hut is really very pleasant: sheet, duvet, pillowcase provided, very copious à la carte menu, varied and of high quality. Half-board price €50. Lovely hike, with a sustained ascent and descent.

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Very nice hike. Don't miss the night at the refuge for an excellent meal, something you've never had before in a refuge.

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A short, restful stage between 2 more intense ones... A pleasant climb through the beautiful larch forest and a panoramic descent to the Jervis hut.
A welcoming hut with plenty of food:...

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Very useful Gpx track for this tour of the Viso

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Climb through a magnificent forest of multi-centenary larches. A very warm welcome from the Italian refuge...

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We got off to a great start with a series of hikes over several days.

We set off around noon, my wife, who wasn't very fit because of the confinement, gave up and I continued on my own.

The weather was very fine in France, overcast in Italy (I hear it's that way every afternoon in this valley), and we arrived at the refuge at 4pm (with a picnic break).

At 6pm, it rained.

Very good meal, but very copious at the refuge (I wasn't able to finish it all), with very good compliance with the barrier measures.

A comment on the description: at the Col Lacroix, there are two paths that go down on the Italian side. You have to take the one on the right.

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As it was a short stage, I climbed to the top of Praroussin. It's well worth it: a beautiful 360° view that gives you a foretaste of the high mountains. For those chilled by the icy wind at the Col de la Croix, don't worry, there's very little wind at the top. You can picnic here, sheltered from the wind, on one of the large flat terraced stones. At the pass, take the path that starts off to the right, just after the small border building. Round trip from pass to pass: one hour.

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Nice climb up to the Col Lacroix... and we're in Italy!
Marmots on the descent.
The Jervis hut, the objective of this 1st stage, is quickly reached: the food is excellent! A wonderful crème caramel !!!! The refuge can be reached in 1? hours on the Italian side, so there are lots of people there for meals. It's a very friendly place.
This first stage is a warm-up for the 5-day tour.
You can easily set off in the early afternoon and plan to arrive in the late afternoon. The valley is very pretty (lots of bivouacs) and we cross it the next day for the 2nd stage.

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[Carried out as part of the 5-day Tour of Mont Viso.
For the record, we are a fairly sedentary couple and not very sporty, and we decided to do this itinerary in bivouac + food autonomy for 5 days].

First stage, completed on 27/07/2017
Departure from l'Echalp (car park) at around 10:30 am
Break after the pass (windy): 12:30 to 13:30
Arrive at the Refuge du Jarvis around 3:30pm for refreshments.

Shortly after the Jarvis, staying on the itinerary, on the plain slightly below, there is a stream, numerous drinking troughs and fountains... as you come across quite a few herds of cows.
It was here (between 2 Italian scout camps) that we bivouacked for our first night (a little noisy and smoky from the scouts' fires).

Apart from the scent of the cembro pines that accompany the start of this tour, the only attraction of this first stage is that it takes us out of the "civilised" valley and into the more natural and wilder mountain pastures. You won't see another road or hear another engine for another 6 days.

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I haven't done it yet.

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