Becca di Monciair, from Breuil

Access

From the motorway barrier at Aosta-West, keep left and follow the signs for Aosta - Saint-Pierre. After one kilometre, at the roundabout, take the second exit to join the main road. Continue on the state road for 4.3 kilometres, passing the village of Saint-Pierre until you reach a new roundabout with the Gran Paradiso National Park sign. Take the first exit and continue on the state road for 1.4 kilometres until you come to the exit for Introd/Rhemes S.G/Rhemes N.D/Valsavarenche. Continue for  700 metres and at the roundabout take the first exit onto for Valsavarenche. Follow the regional road for 3.9 kilometres, pass the village of Introd and, after a series of hairpin bends, you will reach the crossroads for Val di Rhêmes . Continue left on and climb the valley for another 21.8 kilometres, passing the main town Dégioz, the village of Eau Rousse and finally the village of Le Pont, where there is a large free car park 🅿️.

[0h44'] - [33.1km]

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Pont Valsavarenche can also be reached by bus with the company Arriva, leaving from Villeneuve in about 50 minutes.

Introduction

Beautiful route also used as a descent route for those ascending from the north. Very beautiful if in good condition, a bit treacherous due to very steep and slippery terrain otherwise. If in doubt contact a guide!!

Description

From the Rifugio, leave the evident moraine ridge on the left and continue in the "S" shaped valley (large snowfields until mid-July) following path traces and cairns aiming at the base of the beautiful north-west ridge of the Ciarforon where there are two large stone cairns: here it is best to tie up. Descend into the valley, taking care not to remain below the wall, and set foot on the glacier, aiming for the bastionata that characterises the crest of the 'normal' route where this has a slight outcrop (not the gendarme, which is also visible further to the right from Pont and the Refuge). Here in case of snow the slopes can already be quite interesting, so be careful. With fun passages on rock (max II) you come out on the ridge: the view of the vertical south slope is beautiful. Follow the ridge towards the summit, avoiding some boulders on the side of Valsavarenche until the big gendarme that you can cross (V/V+) or contour always on the side of Valsavarenche. Continue more steeply upwards until descending a very exposed notch of about 7-8 metres (II). From here, ascend aiming for the summit, which is reached by a fun boulder climb (max II). There is also a wonderful view as far as your car parked in Pont.

We strongly recommend booking at the Vittorio Emanuele II Refuge (telephone 0165-95.920)