Skimo

Col de la Sassa from Valpelline

The Sassa Bivouac (no longer in existence)

Details

Chamen

Departure location

Bionaz

Municipality

challenging

Effort

Difficulty

4.7

Rating

1.532 m

Ascent vertical drop

3h 55m

Ascent time

Description

Services in the surroundings

Chentre Bivouac - Bionaz

Bionaz 1.841 m

Reviews

05/04/2025

steocasag

Description

Che gran giornata e che neve. Si parcheggia a Chamen, nel parcheggino all’imbocco della poderale, condiviso con chi si reca al Prarayer dato che la strada è chiusa poco dopo. Comodo portage fino a quota 1970 circa, dove si calzano gli sci sia in salita che a scendere. Il vallone è in ombra, partendo alle 08.00 per un bel pezzo, che, con le temperature di oggi, è una gran cosa. Ultimi 500 metri al sole, che oggi pestava parecchio. Neve stupenda, una sola curva brutta, la prima, poi si traversa sul versante opposto e inizia il divertimento. Mezzo dito di cremina che aumenta scendendo, ma comunque la neve è sempre portante per tutto il percorso senza mai sfondare. Pochissime tracce vecchie che non davano fastidio e non un’anima in giro oltre a noi. Io avrei anche azzardato le 5 stelle ma i miei soci non amano portare gli sci sullo zaino, quindi 4, ma la sciata è dall’inizio alla fine davvero stupenda. Con Ale a telemark, Gian staccato Luca e Matteone

More info

Road access: Pulito, la strada è aperta fino a Chamen, posti auto condivisi con chi parcheggia per il Rif. Prarayer

Observation: Old Hard slab avalanches

Upper section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Lower section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Snow altitude: 2000

Equipment: Freeride equipment

08/04/2023

lorenzocz

Description

Da quota 1700m circa 300m sci in spalle su comoda strada poi neve continua dal Grand Chamin. Salita nulla da segnalare. Discesa dal colle su farina caduta nella notte su fondo duro impeccabile. Parte basse bella neve primaverile. Decisamente migliore sciata della stagione. Temperature ancora basse, ottimo rivelò notturno. Con Giorgio.

More info

Road access: In macchina fino a 1700m ovvero la base della gita poiché la sbarra è già aperta.

Observation: Old Hard slab avalanches

Upper section snow: Packed soft snow

Lower section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Snow altitude: 2000

Equipment: Skimo equipment

Details

Chamen

Departure location

Bionaz

Municipality

challenging

Effort

Difficulty

3h 55m

Ascent time

1.724 m

Starting elevation

3.256 m

Arrival elevation

1.532 m

Ascent vertical drop

8.200 m

Total length

Feb - Mar - Apr

Best period

medium

Crowding

4.7

Rating

Overview

Col de la Sassa is located at the head of the wild Sassa Valley in Valpelline, in a high mountain setting enclosed between the bold peaks of the Grand Becca Blanchen and Becca des Lacs.It is a classic spring route, suitable for well-trained ski mountaineers able to move on steep slopes at times especially in the final part, while in the first part it runs in a gentler, more sinuous valley. It requires settled snow as it traverses the long valley enclosed between the steep slopes of the high peaks of Comba del Grand Chamen and SassaAn intermediate destination may be the hump at 2973 m on which the Bivacco della Sassa (named after Stefano Ceresa) was located, but currently no longer exists because it was dismantled following landslide events on the slopes above.

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. Just before Gignod, immediately after the last tunnel, proceed to the right following the Valpelline SR28, reaching the main town.Continue on the SR28 for 16 km passing Oyace and Bionaz, then continue toward the Place Moulin Dam until the small group of Chamen chalets, parking places by the roadside. In case the road is not passable, there is a barrier at la Ferrera, about 2 km before Chamen.

The route

From the parking area at the entrance of the Vallone della Sassa, in the locality of Chamen, follow the track of the farm road that, with a sequence of hairpin bends, gains altitude, reaching the group of huts of Grand Chamen 2023 m.You leave the alpine pastures on the left to continue along the track of the road flanking the ridges of the Becca di Chatelet and ending at the alpine pastures of La Crotta 2192 m where the valley bends decisively to the northwest. Here on the left you will be able to see traces going up the route of the north slope leading to the Tour de la Tsa.Entering the heart of the Sassa valley, with the pass clearly visible in the background, you will encounter the ruins of a hut 2521 m, before tackling a series of steeper sections alternating with others on a false plain until you reach the center of the gully enclosed between the moraines of the two small residual glaciers of the Sassa.At an altitude of about 2700 m, at a short plateau, the rocky spur on which the Bivacco Stefano Ceresa 2973 m (currently dismantled) had been placed can be seen on the left, which can be reached and can be considered an intermediate destination should one wish to shorten the route or in case the slopes above are in less than optimal condition.For the Col de la Sassa, continue instead by staying on the bottom of the gully about in the middle of the valley, until you come in sight of a rock barrier at about 3000 m, which must be bypassed on the right below the western slope of the Becca des Lacs via a small gully that gives access to the beautiful upper slope, on the remains of the Glacier Orientale de la Sassa.At this point, climb the fairly steep slope moving slightly to the left in the direction of the notch of the Col de la Sassa 3256 m.Descent:The route is very logical and obvious, you will be able to exploit to your heart's content the beautiful upper slopes often still with powdery snow even in the late season, while thanks to the particularly sunny exposure the middle part will often be found in very smooth and fun spring snow conditions.

Services in the surroundings

Sport

Chentre Bivouac - Bionaz

Bionaz 1.841 m

Nearby attractions

No attraction found

Weather service by the RAVA Functional Centre

Open the site of the Functional Centre of the Aosta Valley Region

Avalanche bulletin by Aineva

Open the Aineva website

Reviews

05/04/2025

steocasag

Description

More info

Road access: Pulito, la strada è aperta fino a Chamen, posti auto condivisi con chi parcheggia per il Rif. Prarayer

Observation: Old Hard slab avalanches

Upper section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Lower section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Snow altitude: 2000

Equipment: Freeride equipment

08/04/2023

lorenzocz

Description

More info

Road access: In macchina fino a 1700m ovvero la base della gita poiché la sbarra è già aperta.

Observation: Old Hard slab avalanches

Upper section snow: Packed soft snow

Lower section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Snow altitude: 2000

Equipment: Skimo equipment

22/03/2023

marmotta

Description

Sbarra lungo la strada per Place Moulin a 1.5 Km da Chamen, quindi stallaggiò obbligatorio. neve lungo la poderale a pochi minuti dal bivio, ma ancora per poco a meno di altre nevicate. innevamento importante, 50 cm a quota 1900, poco prima di Grand Chamen. Pendii alti , dopo la morena, da valutare, soprattutto quelli di destra. io sono passato a sinistra, ma le barre rocciose sovrastanti non hanno ancora scaricato. Vallone della TZA con solo tre tracce di discesa e pendii molto carichi, anche quelli laterali. Buon rigelo notturno, neve trasformata su tutto il percorso.

More info

Road access: Auto lungo la strada, sbarra a alla frazione Ferrere, 1,5 Km da Chamen, circa 7 per arrivare al Prarayer, compreso il tratto lungo la diga.

Observation: Old Hard slab avalanches

Upper section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Lower section snow: Spring snow / Firn

Snow altitude: 1700

Equipment: Skimo equipment

Nearby routes (<2 km)