Gressoney/Gabiet
Location: Valle di Gressoney
1825 m ü. M.
Access:
Highway A5 from Turin direction Aosta, exit Pont St. Martin, main road SS505 direction Issime / Gabi, St. Jean, La Trinité
Then mountain road to Staffa
Train to Turin–Aoste, terminus at the Pont St. Martin, then bus connection to Gressoney (bus also from Aoste, Turin or Milan)
Accommodations
Gressoney/Gabiet - Alagna
This is one of the longest stages, but it can be shortened with the help of ropeways.The bronze ibex, at the level of the Camoscio pass, is a must see curiosity. Also in observing the typical constructions, we have a good overview of the archaic life of the Walser.
The marmots frolic along the trail to Col d’Olen.
The slopes, covered in fallen rocks, leave only place for a sparse flora through which we can see a few alpine flowers. Two big huts can be found at the Col d’Olen: the Rifugio Guglielmina and the Rifugio Vigavano which invite you for a short stop.
During the descent, we cross the "Sasso del Diavolo" (the Devil’s rock). According to the legend, it was to be used, by the devil to destroy a new chapel, but God stopped him. Water is searching its way among the ground’s crumples and the dark shining rocks. On the mountain pasture of Pianmisura, even a mule is working, right along modern means of transportation! In Alagna (which means “in the country” in english) one can, depending on the bus schedule, either sleep there or rest on the bus until the Rifugio Pastore.