Cheneil, from Promindoz

Introduction

Suggestive walk through the forests of the upper Valtournenche that allows you to admire excellent views despite the not excessive altitude.

Description

Leaving the car behind, we penetrate between the houses and shortly afterwards, keeping to the left of the village, we come to a marker indicating the Alta Via 1 and our final destination.
We start to climb up the path, soon reaching a small bridge over the Cheneil stream, turn right and cross a small clearing. We re-enter the beautiful fir forest and proceed up the slope in a series of wide turns. Having reached a second marker indicating the path to Paquier (which we obviously disregard), we continue up the ridge, enjoying the splendid atmosphere of the forest and some panoramic views of the Grandes Murailles. Shortly afterwards we come to a second signpost, indicating the fork to Alpe Falinère. We follow for Cheneil. We then reach the farm road to Creux: we cross it and climb up the forest again to a second crossroads with the farm road. You leave the forest and, following a fence, reach an isolated house and shortly afterwards a beautiful little chapel dedicated to St Peter. Here, it is possible to turn right and reach the village of Promindoz (1845 m, 1h15'). The view is fantastic over the entire valley dominated by the Cervino.
Following the path to Cheneil, you leave the plateau, enter the forest and start climbing again. At first the path climbs into dense woodland, but then the forest thins out and the path climbs in hairpin bends up a gully that affords splendid views of the valley below.
At the top of the gully, we cross a plateau with some huts on the left and shortly arrive at Cheneil (2105 m, 2h15'). The view of the Cheneil comb is stupendous, as is the view of the valley below.
The return is by the same route as the outward journey in about 1h15'.