Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R108
Vernayaz » Cabane de Susanfe
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8h15 |
19.8 km
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2039 m
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391 m
Warning: The track from Vernayaz to the Pissevache waterfall and on to Van d'en Haut no longer exists. Instead take the mule trail from Vernayaz to Salvan and from there to "Les Granges" and Van d'en Haut, continuing further uphill to the Salanfe lake. Head along the left-hand shore of the lake, soon turning off to the right and starting the last climb to the Col de Susanfe. From the pass, it is just a short distance to the Susanfe hut, the stage destination.
Warning: The track from Vernayaz to the Pissevache waterfall and on to Van d'en Haut no longer exists. Instead take the mule trail from Vernayaz to Salvan and from there to "Les Granges" and Van d'en Haut (little chapel). At the campsite, the trail first leads along the northern bank of the Salanfe river and then changes to the southern bank to head past the Fontaine à Moïse (Moses’ fountain). A jet of water shoots out of the rocks as if from nowhere. You will soon catch sight of the Lac de Salanfe reservoir wall. A short climb parallel to the reservoir wall leads to the Salanfe hut. From here, there is an imposing view over the Dents du Midi massif. Walk along the northern bank of the lake on the alpine road to point 1932, from where the mountain trail leads through the stone detritus of the Dents du Midi massif and climbs a ridge to the Susanfe pass. Just before the pass crossing, the trail passes a ledge. On reaching the pass, you can see into the Susanfe valley basin for the first time. After the pass, continue on the right side of the mountain, which is less steep, down to the Susanfe hut, the stage destination. (Schweizer Wanderwege).
Natural and cultural heritage
Dent du Midi/Salanfe For those living at the upper section of Lake Geneva, the Dent du Midi is a very special symbol. On one side, it points the way to the south, and on the other forms a majestic entrance to the alpine world with its seven peaks. From the east to the south, it forms a beautiful half curve, with the Plan Névé glacier hanging within it. Below lies the Salanfe reservoir, which has a storage capacity of 40 million cubic metres of water. It is 52 metres high, 40 metres wide on the foundation bed and 608 metres long on the surface. According to old tradition, it seems that Salanfe was once owned by the Abbey of St. Maurice. Afterwards, it changed hands another four times, between the communities of Vérossaz, Massongex, Ste-Maurice and Evionnaz. In 1870, Salanfe was then formally allotted to Evionnaz by judicature. This made it possible to sell water entitlements, which marked the start of a year-long controversy, especially as the alpine inhabitants would lose their pastureland vital to their livelihood at the time if a reservoir was built. Furthermore, this also had a direct impact on the Pissevache waterfall in the Rhonetal valley. The Salanfe Alp was the starting point for numerous mountain races and in 1898 boasted the 1st Dent-du-Midi hotel, to accommodate tourists on expeditions to the Dent du Midi. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Du Léman à Sion / André Beerli ~ Editions Ketty & Alexandre (ISBN 2-88114-026-2)
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Comments
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
benandlara - 2023-11-26
If heading west from Ref Bonavu in bad weather consider taking their service road down and traverse the roads below Barmaz to climb to the old 4WD that is the GR5 crossing into france ... it bypasses the climbing of some passes so the altitude loss is less apparant and it may be several hundred metres below the cloud on a better trail
Wegweiser und Via-Alpina-GPS-Track zeigten in Granges in verschiedene Richtungen. Wir folgten dem Weg durch die "Gorges du Dailley". Eindrücklicher, gut mit Treppen und Geländern gesicherter Weg durch die Schlucht. Sehr empfehlenswert.
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Signposts and Via Alpina GPS track showed in Granges in different directions. We followed the path through the "Gorges du Dailley". Impressive, well secured by stairs and railings way through the gorge. Highly recommended.
Tentorini Chantal - 2015-09-28
Faites la montée à Van d'en Haut par les gorges de Daillez très bien équipées et magnifiques.
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Make the climb to Van d'en Haut by the gorges of Daillez very well equipped and beautiful.
Alpinisten - 2015-08-16
sorry, ich meinte natürlich Bonavau, nicht Bovine-
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sorry, I meant, of course Bonavau not Bovine-
Alpinisten - 2015-08-16
Wegen eines Gewitters mußten wir vorzeitig ins Tal absteigen und landeten so zufällig in Martigny.Von hier kann man bei Bedarf mit dem Mt.Blanc-Express nach Salvan fahren. Hier gibt es ein Vegetarisches Hotel:Fam. Schatzmann-Eberle : CH-1922 Les Granges : Tél. +41 (0) 27 76115-22 : Fax +41 (0) 27 76115-88. Von hier aus schafft man es bei gutem Wetter bis Bovine, falls die Cabane de Susanfe voll ist...
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Because of a storm we had to prematurely descend into the valley and ended up so randomly in Martigny.Von here you can drive if necessary with the Mt.Blanc Express to Salvan. There is a vegetarian hotel: Fam. Schatzmann-Eberle: CH-1922 Les Granges: Tél. +41 (0) 27 76115-22: Fax +41 (0) 27 76115-88. From here you can make it in good weather to Bovine, if the Cabane de Susanfe is full ...
tof - 2015-02-08
Trieste-Monaco 11/9/14
Ayant pris une variante, passé à Le Plex et suivi un chemin en balcon avant de rejoindre Alesse. Chouette chemin sur lequel il faut rester vigilant.
A Vernayaz, ravitaillement possible. Je confirme, le départ du chemin pour monter vers Les Granges est difficile à trouver. Viser la centrale electrique.
Les Granges joli village avec belle vue.
Camping à Van d'en haut. Personne pour receptionnermais installation possible. Cherchez un coin pour laisser l'argent vers l'accueil. N'oubliez pas de la monnaie et notamment des pièces de 1 CHF sinon pas de douche chaude. En cette période fait froid dans le cirque!
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Trieste-Monaco 09.11.14 Having a variant passed to The Plex and followed a path balcony before joining Alesse. Nice path that we must remain vigilant. A Vernayaz, possible supplies. I confirm the departure of the way up to Les Granges is hard to find. Aim the power plant. The pretty village Granges with beautiful view. Camping Van from above. Person receptionnermais installation possible. Looking for a corner to leave the money to the homepage. Remember to include currency and coins 1 CHF otherwise no hot shower. At this time it is cold in the circus!
Elisabeth - 2014-12-10
La description de cette étape était totalement fausse (carton rouge !) quand je suis passée là cet été... J'en ai fait la remarque dès mon retour et je suis très heureuse que cela ait été tout de suite rectifié ! Je complète en précisant, comme il n'y a pas d'indication à Vernayaz, qu'il s'agit du "chemin des Diligences" qui démarre derrière l'usine électrique, après avoir pris la petite route à droite de l'église. Ce chemin recoupe la ligne de l'Express Mont-Blanc.
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The description of this stage was completely wrong (red card!) When I went there this summer ... I have remarked upon my return and I am very happy that this was rectified immediately! I fully specifying, as there is no indication in Vernayaz, it is the "way stagecoach" that starts behind the power plant, after the small road to the right of the church .dropoff window This road crosses the line of the Mont Blanc Express.
Joc - 2014-10-28
A Vernayaz j'ai dormi à l'hôtel de la gare. Chambres avec ou sans salle de bain. Accueil sympa. Nourriture portugaise et viandes sur ardoise. La chambre sans salle de bain m'a coûté CHF 55.- (CHF 5.- de plus avec petit-déj.). On entend les trains passer bien sûr, mais c'est supportable. C'est le logement le plus proche pour continuer en direction de Dorénaz et le col du Demècre. Il n'y a pas de logement à Dorénaz ni à Allesse (le B&B Aurore n'existe plus). Prochain logement sur le chemin: le refuge du Scex Carro (env. 2h de marche raide depuis Champex d'Allesse.
Pour aller de l'hôtel de la gare de Vernayaz à Dorénaz: prendre le passage sous voie, suivre la route qui part à gauche, puis la petite route qui passe entre l'ancienne usine en brique rouge et un ancien court de tennis à l'abandon. Un sentier rejoint le pont. On marche au bord de la route, puis suivre le sentier pédestre et cycliste sur la gauche. On arrive au téléphérique de Dorénaz en 25 min.
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A Vernayaz stayed at the hotel from the station. Rooms with or without bathroom. Nice home. Portuguese food and hot stone. The room without bathroom cost me CHF 55.- (CHF 5.- more with breakfast incl.). Trains means go of course, but it's bearable. This is the closest to continue towards Dorenaz and neck Demècre housing. There is no housing Dorenaz nor Allesse (B & B Aurore no longer exists). Next housing on the way: the refuge Scex Carro (about 2 hours steep walk from Champex to Allesse To get from the hotel to the train station to Vernayaz Dorenaz.. Take the underground route, follow the road that goes to left, and the road that runs between the old red brick factory and a former tennis court abandoned. A trail reaches the bridge. We walk along the road and follow the pedestrian and bicycle path on the left. We arrive at the cable Dorenaz 25 min.
Joc - 2014-10-28
Accueil sympa à l'Auberge de Salanfe, bien que le lieu ressemble un peu à une usine... Dortoirs ou des chambres avec petit balcon.
La descente de Salanfe à Van-d'En-Haut est jolie. Le camping (et donc l'épicerie) étaient fermés quand je suis passée (un matin début septembre, un jour de semaine).
A Salvan: supermarché et boulangeries. Logement aux Granges (au-dessus de Salvan): Les Soldanelles (chambres et dortoir).
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Friendly service at the Auberge de Salanfe, although the place looks a bit like a factory ... or Shared rooms with small balcony. The descent to Salanfe Van d'En High is pretty. Camping (and groceries) were closed when I went (early September morning, a weekday). A Salvan: supermarket and bakeries. Accommodation in Granges (above Salvan): The Soldanelles (dorm rooms).
Cabane Susanfe to Col Susanfe : 1h30 with snow in July2013 going up
Col Susanfe - Lac de susanfe 1h30 going down steeply. Summer trail goes left, winter trail recommended if snow goes by the right when going down.
Lac Salanfe have a refuge (food and bed available), chapel is open.
From refuge lac Salanfe, in one hour, Van d’en Haut camping ground is reachable (hot shower 1CHF), possible bivouac nearby
Van d'en Haut to Vernayaz (GPX file was incorrect), the trail to follow goes by Les granges then down to Vernayaz
Van d'en Haut - Vernayaz 3h30 getting lost and havin trouble finding a way to get down
Vernayaz sucks big time, avoid a restaurant called "Le relais" in Dorenaz. got frozen food served, bad service, been asked 5CHF for a little extra of frozen french fries because the food did not filled me up correctly
Dorenaz - Cabane Scex Carro 3h40 steep way up
Dom Lalot - 2013-09-01
J'ai essayé le camping suivant http://www.cascadepissevache.ch
Quand je suis arrivé tout était fermé, mais j'ai pu poser ma tente. Bien évidemment, pas de douches etc..
On dirait qu'il est définitivement fermé. En tout cas le prix était abordable: 0 Fr
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I tried the following camping http://www.cascadepissevache.ch When I arrived everything was closed, but I could put my tent. Of course, no showers etc. .. It looks like it is permanently closed. In any case, the price was affordable: 0 En
Christa - 2012-09-02
Weg entlang Wasserfall Pissevache ist nicht mehr durchgängig, Absturzgefahr! Bitte als Alternative Säumerweg zwischen Vernayaz und Les Granges benutzen.
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Way along Pissevache waterfall is no longer consistent, falling down! Please use an alternative Säumerweg between Vernayaz and Granges.
Janek - 2011-07-21
I couldn't find the path beginning from from the waterfall and headed back to Vernayaz where I was directed to another road starting near the power station. It has also a tons of hairpins, but the going itself is very easy. Are you sure that you are not confusing these two paths?
Also- the short description says that you have to take the left bank of lake Salanfe, but the map and the detailed description indicate that the correct path is on the northern shore e.g. the right hand bank.
The altitude of Lac de Salanfe and Col de Susanfe is missing. for the first it should be 1925 and latter 2494
1) Besides my opinion that you should never use a bus when being on a hiking trip, don't skip the hiking path upwards as suggested by Daniel. It's really a nice way - especially the first 500 meters in height with a special path.
2) There's a campsite at Van d'en Haut with the possibility to buy some goods (also beer!).
3) To get to the water source close to Van d'en Haut after passing the campsite, follow the "driving" road, not the hiking path (Following the hiking path, I missed the source).
4) The description in the guide can be misunderstood. You have to walk along the side of the lake where you get close to the hut 'Lac de Salanfe'.
Daniel - 2010-10-17
Auberge de Salanfe is far less horrible as it looks from he outside. When the day-tourists leave staff turns very friendly. They give you seconds at dinner. There are a huge number of dorms (CHF 59). Use this as an alternative to Vernayaz. At Van d'en Haut there is a mini-bus that bring you to the valley (or vv: up), saving you a boring hike through the woods.
|
8h15 |
19.8 km
|
2039 m
|
391 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.