Salomon, from Pilaz

Introduction

Short and interesting walk, off the beaten track.

Description

0h00' [0.00kmT1] From the car park, proceed for a short stretch following the road to Estoul until you reach a crossroads: turn left and meet the signposts indicating the final destination. The little road climbs up, leaving behind the last houses and the no-transit sign for motor vehicles; it then continues through pastures and patches of low-trunk vegetation, in the presence of Punta Guà. The first part of the route takes place, in fact, among pastureland parcels laboriously cleared of stones: many piles of stones are evident, "telling" of man's challenge against the environment to reclaim the land. The path continues with unusual views of Mont Zerbion and, shortly afterwards, we pass near an underground water collection basin: the ascent is always continuous until we reach the pastureland of Porte (1502m).

0h20' [0,00kmT1] Leaving the mountain pasture on the right, the road flattens out briefly and then begins to climb again near the diversions for the ferruginous spring (1525m, 0h25'); neglecting the diversions (it is optional: about half an hour's walk there and back), the climb continues into the wood, passing two small hairpin bends and the little road becomes a dirt track. The ascent is constant and you proceed straight ahead, with privileged views of the Col de Joux, until you come to a large hairpin bend to the right (1607m, 0h35'): at the bend, a small path branches off from the road. Go up the path until you reach a firebreak in the middle of the forest, cross it and shortly take the little dirt road again: turn left and walk along it until you reach a fork, just before a wooden panel indicating Salomon. Take the small road on the left, which descends briefly to the edge of beautiful pastureland, and shortly afterwards, you will finally reach the characteristic scattered village of Salomon (1,671m, 1h 20').

The return journey follows the same route as the outward journey (0h 40').