Skimo

Col des Ceingles from Saint-Rhémy via the Comba de Thoules

It descends to the Great St. Bernard Pass road.

Details

SS27 above Saint-Rhémy

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

1.094 m

Ascent vertical drop

3h 15m

Ascent time

Description

The Col des Ceingles, or Col de Saulié, is a pass located in the long Lesache-Crévacol ridge.
Discreetly scenic, it offers interesting views of the Aiguille de Lesache and Mont Fourchon and the not-too-distant Great St. Bernard Pass.
The ascent described is up the northern slope starting from just above Saint-Rhémy.
The ascent to the Col de Saint-Rhemy and the final section to the Col des Ceingles are decidedly steep and should be tackled when the snow is well stabilized, normally t...

Services in the surroundings

Eni Station - Gas Station

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 1.881 m

Prosciutteria Sous le Pont de Bosses

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 1.929 m

Nearby attractions

Church of Saint-Rhémy

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 658 m

Details

SS27 above Saint-Rhémy

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

3h 15m

Ascent time

1.715 m

Starting elevation

2.809 m

Arrival elevation

1.094 m

Ascent vertical drop

7.920 m

Total length

Mar - Apr

Best period

low

Crowding

Overview

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth, take the tunnel leading into the Great Saint Bernard Valley and continue along it, passing the villages of Gignod, Etroubles and Saint-Oyen.
Just before Bosses turn right onto state road 27 for the Great Saint Bernard Pass.
Go past the village of Saint-Rhémy and after 1.3 km you reach the point where the road is no longer cleared of snow during the winter closure: you can park in the surrounding spaces.

The route

Proceed on the snow-covered road, following it faithfully until the shelf where you cross the Great St. Bernard stream.
At the watercourse, on the road bridge, turn right and take a forest track that slightly uphill skirts the hamlets of La Tuette 1778 m and shortly after passes below the Great St. Bernard Tunnel viaduct.
Slightly descend to the bottom of the valley, following it on a level path, and then climb up on the left until meeting the state road again near Praz d'Arc 1977 m.
Continue the ascent into the wide comba passing near the alpine pasture of Praz de Farcoz.
Turn left crossing the wide hollow to climb the slope to the left of the Col de Saint-Rhémy located at 2557 m.
You proceed to a short descent on the midslope to enter the Comba de Thoules.
At the end of the short descent, continue into the valley keeping below the Aiguille de Lesache before veering left pointing towards the col. Continue in the direction of the creek overcoming the last steep drop before reaching the Col des Ceingles 2809 m.

Descent:
Descent takes place on the ascent route. The first descent is on the northeastern slope of the pass and along the lonely Comba de Thoules. After making the short ascent to the Col de Saint-Rhemy, the next descent takes place in the wide comba keeping along the ascent route or, at a later season on the right reaching the hairpin bend above Pra d'Arc.
A pleasant descent and normally always in good condition that in the final section, near the viaduct of the Great St. Bernard tunnel, slightly steepens.