Approach
Valgrisenche: follow for Bonne village. Do not cross dam, stay on higher "ring-road" of Beauregarde Lake, rightside, left hydrographic.
Drive to Surier-Usellier direction. Ignore first right fork to Arp-Vieille, Rutor (about 500 mt. passed Bonne), and drive for about 3 kms. When second fork, for Grand Alpe or San Grato Lake, is met, park the car.
Walk for about 10-15 minutes to Grand Alpage (1.988 mt.). Ski-hike starts from here: cross the river and look for first good snow.
Route Description
This hike begins in a flat field close to the river (Rio Grand Alpe), hidden by snow. After ten minutes from the beginning, turn left, onto a steeper slope.
Leave a characteristic "long V" gully on the right. The slope becomes always steeper and narrow, closed by a big rock.
This passage is mandatory for the second half, which is a kind of huge terrace in WNW direction.
This second part leaves Ormelune chain on the left. Hike on large plateau: the righmost you go, the sweetest the slope is.
Close to the ridge, the boundary between Italy and France, is the hardest part of this randonnée.
Do not walk directly toward summit, to avoid a small crevasses area. Traces are always on right side of this slope, to avoid danger.
Once arrived at shoulder end, leave the ski and wear crampons for last effort on NW ridge.
As written before, this ridge is often iced: be careful!
Essential Gear
Alpin gear required. Only to get to the summit: crampons and ice-axe.
Avoid this weight if you planned to end this hike at the final shoulder at 3.174 mt.