Hiking The wonders of Valle d'Aosta

Mount Barbeston
Today’s hike circles around Mont Avic Park. As we leave the hamlet, the trail starts climbing and enters the forest, while our presence is nicely welcomed by a delightful pine scent ! Once we’ve hiked passed the hamlet of Arp, the trail continues onto a shoulder, getting progressively narrow until it forms an easy ridge all the way to the summit of Mount Barbeston (8,143ft). The view rewards our efforts magnificently ! The descent leads to the “English alpine pastures”, and then to the hamlet of La Veula, where we spend another night at our hotel.
Elevation gain: 4,134 feet - Elevation drop: 4,134 feet - Distance : 8 miles
 

Barbustel refuge
With our rucksacks packed for 2 days, we leave the hotel and head out towards the Pessy pine forest, until we reach the creek, that springs out of the lake de Leser. The landscape becomes more alpine and we can soon see Barbustel hut (7,218ft), nestled between mountain lakes and surrounded by glacier-eroded labs, commonly called whales backs ! After we’ve dropped our packs off at the hut, we can hike a little more above the hut or go for a dip in the lake to enjoy this beautiful alpine environment. We spend the night at the hut. No access to our luggage.
Elevation gain: 3,281 feet - Elevation drop: 3,281 feet - Distance : 4 miles
 

Médzove peak
After a rewarding sleep at the hut, we chose to leave early so to enjoy a long day around mountain lakes. The terrain gets rockier as we approach the summit of Medzove peak (9,334ft), the highest point of our day. Mount Iverta (9,620ft) is nor far … We enjoy a wonderful view over the remote and preserved Clavalité valley. Then we start our descent and hike under Mont Avic, following the old minors trail until the valley bottom. A 1h30 ride with our minivan takes us to the village of La Salle in Val d’Aosta. We spend the night at the hotel.
Elevation gain: 2,674 feet - Elevation drop: 5,069 feet - Distance : 8 miles
 

Croix peak | Arpy lake
We transfer to San Carlo mountain pass (6,463ft). We hike through the beautiful larch pine forest and easily reach Col de La Croix. A few minutes later we reach the old military barracks on the ridge leading to the summit of Tête de la Croix. From this strategic military lookout point, the view over the sunny sides of the Mont-Blanc range is magic ! We can also see Col du Petit St Bernard, a historical passageway between the Italian Aosta valley and the Savoyan region of Tarentaise. On the way back we will enjoy a nice foot dip in the superb Arpy Lake. It takes only 10 min to transfer to the village of La Thuile, where we stay for the night.
Elevation gain: 1,640 feet - Elevation drop: 1,640 feet - Distance : 7 miles
 

The waters of Ruitor                                             
Our hiking day starts from the hamlet of La Joux. Along the creek, the trail follows a series of spectacular waterfalls. We continue on with a final uphill section. The imposing Ruitor Glacier and Peak appear just in front of us ! On the way back down, we make a halt at the Deffeyes hut, then we follow down the trail to an alpine lake and later the switch backs all the way back to La Joux. We transfer back to Chamonix where we arrive one hour later.
Elevation gain: 3,281 feet - Elevation drop : 3,281 feet - Distance : 9 miles