Take the autoroute to Martigny, then exit at
Grand St. Bernard. Take the road towards
the Grand St. Bernard pass, the starting-point.
The parking lot is behind the hospice, which
was founded in the 10th century and is still
run by monks. It is possible to spend the night
there. The monks still raise St. Bernard dogs.
You start the hike at 2,469 metres, with an
immediate rise on the Swiss side towards the
Pas des Chevaux pass (2,714 metres, 60 minutes
for this section), then a very steep drop
(2,403 metres, 60 minutes), then a rise again
towards the Batillon pass (2,761 metres,
50 minutes).
Once you arrive at the summit, there is a
superb 360-degree view, including the massif
of Mont Blanc. There follows a very sharp
decent with trickey sections (afraid of
heights? keep clear!) until Lac de la Fenêtre
(2,467 metres, 70 minutes), then you climb
upwards again towards the Fenêtre de Ferret
pass (2,698 metres, 50 minutes). At the top,
you can see the road to the Grand St. Bernard
pass, by which you go back down. Once at
the peak, you are in Italy. You reach the road
and return to the hospice via a small path
below the road, on the right while ascending,
then you cross the road and the small path
continues on the left. Then you are back at
the hospice (2,464 metres, 60 minutes)
This hike takes 5 hours, 45 minutes, for a
change in altitude of 950 metres. You can get
food both at the start and finish of the hike at
the hospice.
For more details, see the Guide des
randonnées, Valais Romand, édition Rother.
Also indispensable: an official map from the Fédération suisse de tourisme pédestre
(Office fédéral de topographie), 1365 Grand St. Bernard.
N° 641 June 2005