Prapremier, from Les Druges Hautes

Introduction

It is a little-known but fascinating itinerary. The Saint-Marcel area has a strategic location: its central position in the Aosta Valley allows one to enjoy stupendous panoramic views.

Description

Leaving the car near the hamlet of Les Druges Hautes (1615m), walk towards the houses of the village, from where a track, often used by snowmobiles, leads into the woods. Go around the hamlets on the right and you will soon come across the no-trespassing sign for the farm road leading to the alpine pastures of Fontaine Froide. Climb up through the larch and fir forest, at first overcoming a fairly steep section, then the path flattens out slightly; after a hairpin bend, you come to a small wooden chalet (1,700m, 0h10') and then continue the ascent with a long straight section that leads below the pastures of Fontaine Froide: the road with two wide hairpin bends takes you to the height of this picturesque mountain oasis (1,815m, 0h40'). On reaching the mountain pasture, a contemplative pause is a must: the view of the Cervino and the entire Monte Rosa group is truly unforgettable. We set off again, turning left above the alpine pastures; the route, still immersed in the forest, proceeds with a constant gradient until we reach a small clearing where we come across a wooden post indicating the Bren alpine pasture: from here we begin to catch a glimpse of the snowy panettone of Mont Roux (2277m), also known as Tramail della Rossa. The trail pushes on towards the watershed with the Clavalité Valley and reaches another clearing that allows us to enjoy a splendid view of the eastern peaks of this wild valley. From here, it takes a few minutes to reach Alpe Bren (1960m, 1h00') and its characteristic wooden Christ. Leaving this evocative glimpse of yesteryear, we continue on the last stretch of ascent that separates us from our destination: a quarter of an hour's walk and we finally reach the cottages of Prapremier (2011m, 1h15').
From up here, you can enjoy an excellent panoramic view, slightly narrower than at Fontaine Froide, but you can certainly be enveloped by the silence that makes this place so fascinating.
The return trip is along the same route as the outward journey.

From Prapremier, you can continue on to Mont Corquet and Mont Roux: as these itineraries have some very steep traverses, check the snow and weather conditions beforehand.