Molline bivouac from Prailles
Hiking
Molline bivouac from Prailles
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Description
The Molline Bivouac, is located in the valley of the same name enclosed on the right by the steep debris walls of Mont Velan, and on the left by Mont de Menouve. It is a comfortable stone structure carved out of an old alpine pasture and is equipped with 16 beds, a wood stove, kitchen and a dining room; in addition, in the summer a small power station provides electricity.
The hike is quite long for its development, albeit on a comfortable farm track first and then on a nice path even if tir...
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Etroubles
average
E
3h 0m
2h 0m
5h 0m
1.557 m
2.415 m
858 m
15.100 m
20B
Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep
medium
Overview
The hike is quite long for its development, albeit on a comfortable farm track first and then on a nice path even if tiring at times, so it is recommended for hikers with a good training.
Reaching the destination, in a pleasant and wild valley and maybe staying overnight at the bivouac will make the hike unforgettable.
Reaching the start
Just before Saint-Oyen, turn right, following the signs for Prailles.
Go up the municipal road for about 4 km until you reach the small village of Prailles Dessous, the starting point of the itinerary.
Leave your car in the small parking lot of the hamlet.
The route
Start climbing again on the opposite bank of the valley through a coniferous forest to the Ponteilles Désot alpine pasture 1808 m; the beautiful mule track climbs northward and, after neglecting the Alta Via trail that climbs to the right to Col Champillon, crosses the stream again to return to the dirt road coming from Prailles, which must be followed to the end of the plateau. On the left, higher up on the wooded ridge, you will notice several mountain pastures including Menouve 1908 m. Very beautiful then is the environment that one crosses, with a huge grassy plateau used as pasture called Grand Menouve.
At the end of the basin, one neglects the dirt track on the left that continues toward other alpine pastures (Tsa Nuova) and the Colle de Menouve, to turn right quickly reaching the huge barn of the Arvus 1985 m alpine pasture, where one meets the trail marker of trail 20B for the Molline Bivouac. Here the dirt track also ends and we find an active fountain in the summer.
The trail begins to climb markedly to the right of the building and tackles the ridge of sparse blueberry and rhododendron trees and plants, with a series of switchbacks that gradually give wider views toward the valley floor.
At 2245 m you come to a fork, where you continue to the right reaching a small plateau with the ruins of the Molline Vieille alpine pasture (only a few perimeter walls remain), after which you start climbing again, gaining the ridge of a moraine cordon that bounds the orographic right of the Vallone de Molline.
At 2296 m a second junction, which intersects another path now in disuse due to erosion of the slope, where you continue to the left overcoming some bumps and depressions; you first reach a valuable cross carved in stone placed on the edge of a hump, which announces the proximity of the bivouac, which you only glimpse at the last moment.
The descent is along the same route as the ascent.
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Last update
30 April 2025, 15:09