Walk: Rifugio Champillon to Col du Grand St Bernard.
From Rifugio Champillon begin with a sharp but thankfully short climb to the Col de Champillon. On a clear day from the Col you’ll be able to see the mighty Mont Blanc in the distance ahead of you.
From here it’s a significant descent of about 900m into the valley on the other side. Head down firstly through a large alpine bowl, before traversing rightwards over a spur to begin a diagonal descent into the Vallon de Menouve below, entering forest near the bottom. The valley is quiet but for a couple of farm buildings.
A short zigzagging ascent takes you up the other side of the valley, into thicker forest. Then begins a wonderfully flat and wide track which takes you out of the Menouve valley, followed by a short descent to the farm buildings at Barasson.
From Barasson the official route as set out in your guidebook and paper map descends to the village of St Rhémy. However, it’s slightly easier to bypass St Rhémy and instead from Barasson head over the Plan Puitz. Therefore, this is what we have plotted on your digital mapping.
The small peak of Plan Puitz gives wonderful views down the valley, so it’s worth the tiny bypass to the summit. From here there’s a short, sharp descent and then a long and very gradual ascent on a balcony path which slowly heads above the treeline. As you head into a large mountain bowl below the jagged peaks of Mont Fourchon, you’re joined by the road which is also heading up to the Col du Grand St Bernard.
Cross the road first at a small group of buildings, where you’ll find the Enoteca Al Sazion Cafe (www.alsazio.com/enoteca). Continue uphill over a broad hillside, crossing the road twice more as it zigzags back and forth. You’ll reach the Col du Grand St Bernard next to a large stone pillar, on top of which is a statue of St Bernard himself, looking over the small lake at the pass.
On this, the Italian side of the lake, you’ll find a couple of hotels and restaurants. On the other side of the lake, in Switzerland, is the large historic hospice which has been offering shelter to pilgrims for almost 1000 years.