Hiking

Champillon Refuge along the Ru d'Allein

At Alpe Tsa de Champillon, it's only a short time away

Details

Comba

Departure location

Allein

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

750 m

Ascent vertical drop

4h 45m

Total time

Description

Services in the surroundings

Allein City Hall

Allein 1.172 m

Allein Post Office

Allein 1.174 m

Nearby attractions

Medieval house of Ayez

Allein 1.717 m

Parish Church of St. Andrew

Allein 1.168 m

Details

Comba

Departure location

Allein

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

2h 45m

Ascent time

2h 0m

Descent time

4h 45m

Total time

1.689 m

Starting elevation

2.402 m

Arrival elevation

750 m

Ascent vertical drop

15.200 m

Total length

ippovia dei Ru,24A,9,AV1,TDC

Ascent signposts

9,AV1,TDC,24A,ippovia dei Ru

Descent signposts

Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep

Best period

high

Crowding

Overview

The Champillon Refuge is a modern structure built in 2005 that is located in the municipal territory of Doues, and overlooks the beautiful pasture comba of Champillon. Dedicated to Adolphe Letey, historic mayor of the municipality of Doues from 1951 to 1990.The uphill route, in the first part is an alternative to the classic route that is taken from Plan du Debat (in the territory of Doues), because it allows you to reach it from the territory of Allein, making a very varied route along a section of the Ru d'Allein, an irrigation canal that brings water to the sunniest territories.The hike does not present difficulties, and is suitable for all hikers with minimal training. In the summer time you will climb through the cool forest at the foot of Mont Saron and then through green pastures full of flowers, while in autumn the warm colors of the yellowed larches will provide strong contrasts with the already snow-capped peaks.

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth take the tunnel along the E27 road leading into the Great St. Bernard Valley, at the end of which you meet the SS27 coming from the center of Aosta. Continue along it, passing the village of Gignod.Continue for another 4 km along the E27, to abandon it in favor of the detour to the right for Allein, Doues, Valpelline.On reaching Allein continue upstream, reaching the hamlet of La Ville; after the beautiful little church, turn right, following the asphalt road that with a series of hairpin bends reaches the high hamlets of the Allein hill, until Comba, where you park in the clearing with a fountain.

The route

Leaving the car in the clearing near the Comba fountain, start climbing, following the Ru horse trail sign, along the dirt track that touches the Pied du Plan chalets and with a few hairpin bends climbs the sunny slope of the high Allein hill. Just beyond Baravex Meiten, the trail enters the forest momentarily, then arrives at Baravex damon 1905 m, in the vicinity of the Dortoir Baravex, a private hut open in the summer and run by the alpine group.Here you meet the signs for trail 24A on the right, leave the main dirt road to enter the pine forest, finding the Ru bridleway a little further on. Continue to the right along the pleasant road that ends at the Arp de Praz, where you also meet the Ru d'Allein. You continue upstream of the alpine pasture, passing a metal bridge under which the Ru flows, at first hidden under the track and then a little further on the water flows visible parallel to the beautiful path always on a gentle slope; you pass near a small waterfall and then arrive at the comba of Champillon, at Plan du Débat 2076 m (fountain) where you meet the paved road coming from Doues.From here on, the frequentation of the trail will increase, you will pass the small pond with the picnic area and always flanking the Ru you will find the signs for trail no.9 for the Champillon Refuge.Following the watercourse you pass by the Our Lady of the Snows chapel, then the trail intercepts the dirt service road to the refuge, which should be followed for a short distance to the Pessinoille 2150 m alp, where the trail continues at the edge into the larch forest on the left and then rejoins the dirt road in the clearing above with the large Tsa de Champillon 2297 m alpine pasture.From here you can now see the hut located on the grassy knoll not far away, and you reach it by continuing along the wide dirt track, with some short steeper sections, until you reach the beautiful Champillon hut near one of the many streams that furrow the slopes. From the hut's scenic terrace, where a restorative break can be taken, there is an expansive view of all the high peaks overlooking the Conca di By, from Mont Gelè to the Grand Combin.The return takes place along the same route as the ascent, with the possibility of admiring the views that on the outward journey had left behind, especially from Baravex one finds oneself on a real panoramic balcony with views of all the glaciers of the Rutor group and the Valley of the Great St. Bernard, as well as the basin of Aosta.