Snowshoeing

Alpe Comba German from Eternod

Along the small road to the Menouve Valley.

Details

Eternod dessus

Departure location

Etroubles

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

222 m

Ascent vertical drop

2h 5m

Total time

Description

The Comba German alpine pasture is located within the Vallone de Menouve, which dominates from high above the course of the stream. The hike is easy and within everyone's reach, and takes place largely within a beautiful coniferous forest, which makes it safe and passable even in heavy snow conditions during the winter period.

Services in the surroundings

CARREFOUR

Etroubles 1.363 m

Food and Tobacco of Crippa Stefano (C/O Marronners)

Etroubles 1.230 m

Nearby attractions

Château Verdun

Saint-Oyen 919 m

Vachéry Tower

Etroubles 1.296 m

Details

Eternod dessus

Departure location

Etroubles

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

1h 10m

Ascent time

0h 55m

Descent time

2h 5m

Total time

1.646 m

Starting elevation

1.868 m

Arrival elevation

222 m

Ascent vertical drop

6.800 m

Total length

senza numero

Signposts

Jan - Feb - Dec

Best period

low

Crowding

Overview

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth take the tunnel leading into the Great St. Bernard Valley and continue along it, passing the villages of Gignod and Etroubles.Just before Saint-Oyen turn right, following the signs for Prailles. Go up the communal road for 3.6 km until you reach the junction for the small village of Prailles dessous: go straight on in the direction of Eternod dessous, which you reach a couple of kilometers later. Without descending into the hamlet, leave your car at the fork.

The route

From the fork above the houses of Eternod dessus, continue along the snow-covered farm road that rises above the village, following it to the second hairpin bend. Here you leave the usually well-trodden track to the left that heads toward Alpe Barasson and Plan Puitz, in favor of the right-hand branch that is almost flat.After an initial stretch still within the forest, you come out on well-sunlit slopes on the vertical of the hamlet of Prailles, whose houses can be seen below.The ascent resumes always gentle and bends northward, making the entrance into the Vallon de Menouve, higher than the course of the stream of the same name.You pass just below the Tchiou alpine pasture and re-enter the forest, reaching a fork at 1828 m. Here the dirt road that returns southward and ends shortly after at the alpine pasture should be neglected, and instead continue straight following the path of the Ru Tchiou (not visible because it flows below the small road).The forest is dense, but it ends suddenly in front of the clearing where the alpine pasture Comba German 1868 m rises, from where you can admire a beautiful view of the mid-high part of the Vallon de Menouve all the way to the area of Bivacco Molline.Slightly higher up than the alpine pasture, which is located at the edge of the forest, are the two vaulted stone barns of the old Plan Bois alpine pasture. Opposite, toward the valley head, the mass of Mont Velan dominates the scene.