Mont Zerbion, from Promiod

Introduction

One of the best known winter itineraries in the Aosta Valley. The quality of the snow and the stupendous views recommend this excursion. Up to the summit, the avalanche danger is almost nil.

Description

From the small square, go up into the meadow and reach the cross-country road, follow it for about a hundred metres and then take a steep mule track on the left that reaches the cross-country road again. Follow it to a crossroads, leave the ascending road on the left and take the new flat road until it crosses the stream. Climb up a beautiful slope to a hut, then re-enter the well-wooded pine forest. You come out into a wide clearing and reach the Francou alp. Enter the forest again until you reach a wide ridge. Follow it to the left as far as the antecima; along this last part, the view of the central valley is particularly interesting. From this point, the ridge narrows for a stretch before widening again and reaching the last crest on skis. Leaving the skis behind, continue on foot, paying attention to the possible cornices on the side towards the north and the steepness towards Saint-Vincent along the narrowing ridge, as far as the great Madonna of the summit. This last section, with hard snow, recommends the use of crampons.