Promoud

Introduction

A pleasant walk in the Vallon d'En Haut. After an initial ascent of around 500m, the route reaches Lazey and enters the valley.

Description

Leaving your car at the no-trespassing sign, proceed for about a hundred metres on the farm track, ignoring the track that descends to the right. When you reach a signpost, turn left and start climbing up the wide path. The first part of the ascent is quite demanding, but this allows you to penetrate into the splendid fir forest and gain altitude; every now and then, a few glimpses open up among the fir trees and you are able to appreciate excellent views of the not too distant Mont Blanc. After a while, the slope slows down and the path turns left, climbing diagonally up the forest. With a series of twists and turns, you gain a few dozen metres in altitude until you reach a beautiful birch belt that precedes the pastureland: you soon reach the farm road again (which can be followed in its entirety with less gradient and greater length) and then Lazey (1521m, 1h00').
Continue along the track that leads to the Lazey mountain pasture, leaving the small chapel dedicated to Luigi Gonzaga on the right. Pass the alpine pasture and, at the first hairpin bend, climb up a grassy track that leads into the forest. Climb a short but steep slope until you reach a clearing near a farmhouse and, shortly afterwards, the farm track again. Turn left and follow the track until you come to a fork near a small bridge: turn left, crossing the Lantaney stream and continue for a good, practically flat stretch until you come to a new signpost: ignore the turnoff to the left for Lake Tillac and continue on the track practically to the end near Montagne Alta, where there is a dortoir.
Leaving the track and following the signposts, take the path that enters the larch grove; with a few twists and turns, you pass a step in the valley, the result of ancient glacial activity. The ascent gradually descends until reaching an almost level stretch where a particular votive shrine set into the rock is encountered. A few metres and you come out of the wood, reaching the junction with Alta Via 2: turn right and cross the stream again on a wooden footbridge. The destination is now visible, and you briefly climb up the pasture until you reach the Promoud Bivouac (2058m, 2h45'), a beautiful structure incorporated into the mountain pasture of the same name.
The return journey is along the same route as the outward journey (1h45').