Snowshoeing

Arp du Bois from Crévacol

At the start, you pass under the viaduct

The various alpine pastures of the Arp du Bois

The plateau at the entrance to the valley

Details

Crévacol

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

suitable for all

Effort

Difficulty

300 m

Ascent vertical drop

2h 15m

Total time

Description

The Arp du Bois alpine pastures are located at the entrance of the Vallone di Serena, in the territory of Saint-Rhemy-en-Bosses, placed at the upper limit of the coniferous forest of Etely.
This is an easy and very popular route, especially by ski mountaineers heading to Col Serena, and it is safe even in heavy snow conditions.
It is advisable to do this hike in the second part of winter-early spring, when the sunshine is greatest on this slope.

Services in the surroundings

Gran San Bernardo Ski School

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 37 m

Rental "Gal Sport"

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 79 m

Point of interest presentation image: Rental

Details

Crévacol

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

suitable for all

Effort

Difficulty

1h 20m

Ascent time

0h 55m

Descent time

2h 15m

Total time

1.663 m

Starting elevation

1.950 m

Arrival elevation

300 m

Ascent vertical drop

6.500 m

Total length

Signposts

Jan - Feb - Mar - Dec

Best period

high

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, Etroubles, and Saint-Oyen.
Leave the road that climbs to the Great St. Bernard Pass on the right and continue on the E27 highway until you meet, on the right, the exit for the Crevacol ski resort.
Continue for about 500 m until you reach the station's large parking lot on its westernmost side.

The route

From the parking lot of the Crévacol ski lifts, continue westward on the flat, passing under the viaduct of the Great St. Bernard tunnel.
You will intercept the farm road with the trail marker n.9 directed to Col Serena, facing a slightly uphill stretch. At the end of the plateau, after crossing the Belle Combe stream in the vicinity of the Farettes alpine pasture 1677 m, you continue along the track touching the Ponty alpine pasture 1681 m and then following the track of the farm road, after a couple of hairpin bends you arrive at Eteley 1755 m.
Here you enter the dense coniferous forest; faithfully following the track, you climb more gently with a series of hairpin bends, but there is usually a track along the summer trail route, which allows you to shorten the route.
As you leave the forest, staying at its right edge, you will immediately meet the cottages (partly ruined) of Arp du Bois dèsot 1950 m, located in a charming clearing in a particularly panoramic position.
The hike can end here, or continue to the hump on the right, where a little scattered, you can already notice the other huts in the area.
As you abandon the possible tracks that continue to the upper part of the Vallone di Serena, heading to the pass of the same name, you reach in succession the Arp du bois de meiten 1990 m and finally, continuing up the short snowy slope, the Arp du Bois damon 2047 m located in an extremely panoramic position over the Comba di Merdeuz and the Great St. Bernard Valley, with the sunny Tête de Crévacol in front.
For more trained hikers (subject to evaluation of snow conditions), it will be possible to continue until reaching the Col di Serena, a very rewarding destination.