Nordic Walking Park in Champlong

Introduction

THE NORDIC WALKING PARK ITINERARIES OF CHAMPLONG (Municipality of Verrayes) Champlong is a locality, in the municipality of Verrayes, at the foot of the Becca d'Aver, which can be reached either from state road no. 26 (following the signs for the main town of Verrayes and then proceeding towards the high hamlets of the municipality as far as the picnic area), or by taking the Valtournenche regional road, reaching the municipality of Torgnon (junction at Antey-Saint-André) and then heading towards the Col Saint-Pantaléon, which connects the municipalities of Torgnon and Verrayes. 

Description

THE ITINERARIES OF THE NORDIC WALKING PARK IN CHAMPLONG (Municipality of [[Verrayes]]) Champlong is a locality, in the commune of Verrayes, at the foot of the Becca d'Aver, which can be reached either from state road no. 26 (following the signs for the main town of Verrayes and then continuing towards the high hamlets of the municipality as far as the picnic area), or along the Valtournenche regional road, reaching the municipality of Torgnon (junction at Antey-Saint-André) and then heading towards the Col Saint-Pantaléon, which connects the municipalities of Torgnon and Verrayes. TOR DE LA BRENVA. (blue colour) Easy route, with an altitude difference of 70 metres and a length of 1,100 km.. We set off from the picnic area, climbing along the road to the end of the tarmac. On the left, an inter-modal road immediately enters the forest. After about five minutes, near the first bend turning to the right, the imposing silhouette of the centuries-old larch (Brenva in the local dialect) can be seen on the left. The route continues into the forest and then out of it, arriving at a vantage point overlooking the clearing where the picnic area is located. The view is beautiful, ranging, starting from the left, from Cima Longhéde, Becca d'Aver, to Zerbion and on the other side of the valley to the Dames de Challand and Monte Emilius and Becca di Nona. Photo 8 + photo 9. TOR SAINT PANTALEON. (red colour) A route of medium difficulty, with an altitude difference of 244 metres and a length of 5.800 km.. Starting from the picnic area, walk along the first part of the route described above (Tor de la Brenva) to the panoramic viewpoint from which, instead of descending, continue by taking the road to the left, the inter-moderal road at the level of the hut below the road. You will climb through the forest for about 1 kilometre; the slope in some sections is not suitable for the correct technical gesture of Nordic walking, but these are brief parentheses. At the end of the climb, you come to a fork in the road, which you must take keeping to the right. Thus begins a long, flat stretch that leads to the Col de Bornes clearing, from which, continuing on the road opposite that begins by climbing slightly, you will first arrive on a flat stretch, then descending slightly until reaching the asphalt road that, crossing the Col San Pantaléon, joins the municipalities of Verrayes and Torgnon. Don't miss the viewpoint on the Matterhorn with an explanatory poster placed inside a lay-by, presenting all the peaks visible from the site. photo 10+ photo 11 The 'Tor Saint-Pantaléon' route was then enriched by three variants: VARIANT COL DES BORNES. (blue colour) Easy route, with an altitude difference of 116 metres and a length of 1.300 km.. Once at Col de Bornes, this variant involves returning to the Champlong picnic area by descending along the inter-pasture road bordered by a large stream, which at times crosses the forest and at others offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and, in the final stretch, of the clearing where the picnic area is located with the adjacent pond, which, seen from above, offer a beautiful viewpoint. Photo 12 VARIANT GORZA' blue colour) Easy route, with a difference in altitude of 60 metres and a length of 1.100 km. This variant allows you to slightly lengthen your return to the picnic area by reaching, from Col de Bornes, the "Gorzà" clearing, a pleasant green opening in the forest. Afterwards, you will reach the inter-pasture road that is part of the variant described above, before reaching the Champlong picnic area. Photo 13 VARIANT VIOLETTE. (blue colour) Easy route, with an altitude difference of 50 metres and a length of 1.700 km This is the variant to the Tor Saint-Pantaléon that, having reached the fork described in the main route, allows you (turning left) to walk along a panoramic road, at the foot of the Cima Longhède that towers above the high hamlets of the commune of Verrayes, offering an unusual spectacle over the area. The view is particularly spectacular, ranging from majestic mountains such as Mont Emilius, the Becca di Nona, the Dames de Challand, to the wide green pastures at the foot of the visitor, to the area from which one started (Champlong) with its small lake and clearing. In spring, the scenery is enriched by the countless colours that nature offers. We reach a now disused quarry and then return to the fork and finish the original route. Photo 15 or photo 15 TOR DE LOZON. (blue colour) Easy route, with an altitude difference of 177 metres and a length of 2.800 km. It starts out from the picnic area, which is skirted until reaching the hamlet of Clavon, at the end of which a very scenic inter-modal road continues, as it runs along the ridge of the mountain, above the Lozon area, where there is a protected area with special characteristics that favour the life of a large number of particular plants and insects. Continuing on, you will reach the locality of Verna and then continue until you cross the tarmac road that connects the municipalities of Verrayes and Torgnon via the Col Saint Pantaléon. Photo 16 GRAND TOR DE CHAMPLONG. (black) Challenging route, with an altitude difference of 255 metres and a length of 8,600 km. The route almost completely sums up the two previously described routes, the "Tor Saint-Pantaléon" and the "Tor de Lozon". Starting from the picnic area, you reach the hamlet of Clavon, continue along the "panoramic" inter-country road that overlooks the protected area of Lozon and then reach the locality of Verna, descend slightly, leaving the crossroads for Mont de Join on your right, and continue until you reach the asphalt road. After crossing and descending the regional road for a short distance, take the path that climbs up through the forest to reach the Col Saint Pantaléon, from where you will continue using the route described above (Tor Saint-Pantaléon) until returning, at the end of the route, to the Champlong picnic area. Obviously, the 'Gran Tor de Champlong' can also be walked in the opposite way to the one described above, starting with the 'Tor Saint Pantaléon' route, up to the pass of the same name, and then descending through the forest to the entrance of the 'Tor de Lozon' dirt track. Photo 17 and photo 18