Upper Col des Cime Bianche, from Saint-Jacques

Access

At the motorway junction of Verrès, enter the roundabout and take the second exit. Proceed in the direction of the town centre and, after 300m, turn left onto the regional road for Val d'Ayas. Follow the regional road for 16.5 kilometres, passing the villages of Challand-Saint-Victor and Challand-Saint-Anselme, Brusson, Vollon, Extrapieraz, Periasc and Champoluc. After about 30 kilometres, you come to the large free car park 🅿️ in Frachey (where the Monterosa Ski rack starts): here there is a shuttle service that takes you to the small square in Saint-Jacques. If you arrive before 7.00 am, it is possible to go up for a short distance and leave your car in another free car park 🅿️ on the left of the road: in this case you have to add about 500m of walking.

[0h44'] - [30.1km]
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The information provided here has been verified as of the date the route was surveyed. Before setting off, it is advisable to ensure that no substantial changes have occurred on the route to the starting point. We therefore recommend the use of the satellite navigation apps provided by Google or Apple for up-to-date and detailed directions.

Description

From Saint-Jacques, follow the signs for path and take a narrow road past the parish church, along the Evançon stream until you reach a bridge. Cross the bridge and you will come to the start of the path, which is marked by a plaque dedicated to the inauguration of the recent Sentiero Frassati (Frassati path).
Take the beautiful paved path that runs alongside the stream for about a hundred metres and then, after crossing a small wooden bridge, continue towards the larch grove. The paved road becomes a path and jumbles haphazardly into several small paths that soon lead to a fork just below Fiéry. Neglect the path to the left that leads to Fiéry and continue along path (7); you will skirt a clearing where the former Casa Alpina is located and enjoy a fine view of the not-so-distant Castore. The path re-enters the forest and with a series of twists and turns takes on height; just before entering the not far Pian della Verra, you will find, on the left, the entrance to the path marked TMR, Tour du Mont Rose.
Continue to the left, following the signs for Alpe Vardaz. Follow the path, which quickly takes you to the foot of a rocky rampart; make a wide curve to the left until you reach a beautiful balcony overlooking the valley below. The path briefly skirts a small stream and leads to a hump overlooking a pleasant clearing. Proceed halfway up the hillside, leaving the bucolic clearing to the left; climb up a short hump and you will find yourself on a beautiful grassy basin crossed by a placid little stream. Follow the path along the stream as far as a nice little wooden bridge: cross this and now proceed up the grassy ridge until you reach the plateau that precedes Alpe Varda.