Alpine Logistics

The valley of Valpelline is renowned as one of Valle d’Aosta’s gems. It neighbours the more famous valleys of the Monte Rosa massif and Matterhorn but unlike them is seldom touched by tourists and the infrastructure that inevitably follows. It abunds in fields, forests and wonderful views onto nearby mountains such as the Gran Combin in Switzerland.

It is particular known for the quality of its ski mountaineering excursions and walking itineraries. So on this beautiful summers day we headed to the village of Ollomont and parked outside the church. Walking at first through the village we admired the old dry stone houses still in excellent condition after so many years exposed to mountain elemets. The rooves are aslo made of overlapping stone called ‘lose’. Although this is much more expensive than using modern tiles the region of Aosta provides grants to those who choose to maintan their houses in the traditional way.

We turned corner after corner in the shade of a sweet smelling pine forest before emerging into a field full of beautiful yellow, pink, white and purple wild flowers. Zig zaging up we came across a heard of bulls grazing near an alpeggio (a mountain hut used in summer by farmers who keep cattle or sheep) and thought it wise to make a wide detour.

Soon we reached Col Cornet (2354m) from which a fantastic view opened out to the north. A high level plateau full of lakes and winding rivers was headed by the glacier of Mont Gelé and rugged peaks of Mont Avril, Gran Testa di By and Mont Velan. Looking back south instead we could see the huge white pyramid of Gran Paradiso peak towering above the neighbouring mountains.

After a sandwhich and a peach we descended over grass and boulders between the lakes and rivers we had seen from the col. The rivers were in full force due to substatial rainful in the preceeding weeks and had formed several very spectacular waterfalls. Finally we descendd more steeply down a final section of forest back to the valley floor; the increase in temperature was significant.