Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R107
Col du Demècre » Vernayaz
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5h30 |
14.2 km
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164 m
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2063 m
Leave the Col du Demècre heading south to reach the Portail de Fully. From here, the trail passes over the ridge, which offers a view over both the lower and upper Valais. From the Sex Carro, there is a steep descent to Champex and Dorénaz. For this stretch, it is also possible to take the aerial cable car. Cross the Rhone plateau to soon reach Pissevache/Vernayaz.
From the Demècre pass, head to the south west below rocks to the hairpin bends leading up to Le Diabley pass. After the crossing, head at an angle to the slope across meadowland on a gentle descent to the Portail de Fully. On the ridge trail that follows, there is an outstanding view into the Rhonetal valley: on the Oberwallis valley floor, you can admire the countless fruit orchards before continuing to the Unterwallis, where the Rhone sparkles in the sunlight. The broadcasting tower on the Sex Carro points out the way along the ridge. The descent through the wood to the Rhonetal valley floor begins from the Sex Carro. Head through the Jeur Brûlée forest clearing. From there, continue on the access road to the first bend, from where a mountain trail then leads down to Champex. Here, it is possible to take the cable car to Dorénaz or descend into the valley along the trail via Allesse through the woodland. From the valley station of the cable car, the village road leads to the bridge over the Rhone. Follow the right-hand bank of the river to reach the motorway underpass, which leads directly to Pissevache/Vernayaz, the stage destination. Here, you can admire one of the natural attractions of the region, the Pissevache waterfall, although today it is regulated with the residual water of the Salanfe river. (Schweizer Wanderwege).
Natural and cultural heritage
Martigny After the destruction of Octodurum in 58 B.C., the newly built town was raised in rank to that of an imperial market town. The little town was henceforth an important trade centre, and had its heyday in Roman times. Numerous Gallo-Romanic relics – for instance the ancient amphitheatre – still bear witness today to its great past. The name of the town changed at the end of the 12th century. As a result of its immediate proximity to the Mount Joux pass (Grand St. Bernard), Martigny frequently suffered as a result of warring armies passing through. La Bâtaz castle, built by the Bishop of Sion, was besieged several times by the Savoyards and destroyed in the year 1457. Between 1798 and 1803, the Wallis region and therefore also Martigny was annexed to France. Today’s town – overlooked by the Bâtiaz tower – was built at the bend in the Rhone along the Dranse river. Its particular geographical location led Martigny to be described as the “pivot of the Alps”. Martigny is connected to Italy (Aosta 75km) and to France (Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 40km) by the Grand St. Bernard pass. Close to Martigny lies the Pissevache waterfall. A number of writers described this waterfall, such as Goethe, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Frau de Staël or Emile Javelle: in 1779, Goethe wrote: "Finally, we arrived at the waterfall that deserves its fame before many others. A powerful stream shoots out of a cleft in the rock from a considerable height and crashes down into a basin, where it is driven far and wide in spray and foam by the wind... .” Despite a lively polemic, the waterfall was tamed by the construction of the Salanfe reservoir wall in 1952. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
272T St-Maurice ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Grand-St-Bernard / Dents du Midi-Les Diablerets ~ Kümmerly und Frey AG, 3052 Zollikofen (1: 60'000)
Useful guidebooks
Unterwallis / Waeber/Steinbichler ~ Bergverlag Rudolf Rother GmbH (ISBN 3-7633-4128-5)
Du Léman à Sion / André Beerli ~ Editions Ketty & Alexandre (ISBN 2-88114-026-2)
Picture gallery
Add your own pictures!
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.
Berta - 2018-07-16
In Vernayaz fanden wir ein schönes Zimmer im Hotel La Cascade, direkt beim Wasserfall. Unser Fenster war mit Blick auf den Wasserfall, nur das Rauschen des Wassers war zu hören, kein Straßenlärm. Etwas teurer als das Hotel am bahnhof, aber um vieles besser. Zimner + Frühstück 148 CHF für 2 Personen
Automatic translation
[Google]
In Vernayaz we found a nice room at the Hotel La Cascade, right by the waterfall. Our window was overlooking the waterfall, only the sound of the water was heard, no street noise. A bit more expensive than the hotel at the station, but much better. Cinnamon + breakfast 148 CHF for 2 persons
Col Demecre has been recently renovated, however everything Joc said is still true. Be sure to have a filter for water, or be prepared to buy bottled water.
Elisabeth - 2014-12-05
Après le pont sur le Rhône, il faut continuer tout droit jusqu'à Vernayaz. Si l'on veut voir la cascade de près, il sera toujours temps de faire l'aller-retour ! Il n'y a plus de camping à Pissevache et le départ de l'étape suivante n'est pas à Pissevache, mais à Vernayaz !
Automatic translation
[Google]
After the bridge over the Rhone, continue straight until Vernayaz. If one wants to see the waterfall up close, there will be time to make a return trip! There are no more camping Pissevache and starting the next step is to Pissevache but Vernayaz!
Joc - 2014-10-28
Pour éviter une étape trop longue et avec trop de dénivelé de Vernayaz au col du Demècre, prendre le téléphérique de Dorénaz à Champex d'Allesse (se renseigner sur les horaires). Le samedi-dimanche le 1er téléphérique est à 09h30...
La cabane du Demècre est très sympa. Mais le plat du soir est toujours des spaghettis, et c'est tout. Excellente tarte aux pruneaux. Pas d'eau courante. Mais il y a des grands bidons avec de l'eau de pluie (non-potable). La gardienne fournit une petite cuvette d'eau chaude sur demande, pour se laver. On peut acheter des bouteilles d'eau potable.
Automatic translation
[Google]
To avoid too long a step and with too much elevation of the neck of Vernayaz Demècre, take the cable car to Allesse Dorenaz Champex (inquire about the hours). Saturday-Sunday 1 cable is 09:30 Demècre ... The cabin is very nice. But the dish of the evening is always spaghetti, and that's all. Excellent plum tart. No running water. But there are large drums with rain water (non-potable). The Guardian provides a small bowl hot water on demand, to wash. You can buy bottles of drinking water.
Vernayaz - Cabane Scex carro is a steep way up 3h40 but worth the effort, great view and cheap bed 15CHF (July 2013), shared pasta shoota with friendly keeper Fabrice & friends
Cabane Scex Carro - Col/refuge du Demecre is 2h way up not steep possible to sleep at Col du Demecre.
From there it can reach Chalet neuf 1858m in one hour down from Col du Demecre but off via alpina which stays upper
Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2013-05-20
Faute de renseignements précis sur les possibilités d'hébergement à VERNAYAZ, j'ai trouvé une chambre d'hotes pratiquement sur la trace de la Via Alpina, à proximité de DORENAZ, au lieu dit ALLESSE...
Accueil trés cordial d'un couple de jeunes Francais dans une belle maison au dessus de la vallée du RHONE.
J'étais leur premier "client" et l'évènement a été trés correctement arrosé !
" L'AURORE " Chambres d'hotes
chez Aurore CRUNELLE
8 Route de CHAMPEX à ALLESSE / DORENAZ
Tel 00 41 (0)79 613 21 20
ou 00 41 (0)27 722 09 68
Email : aurore@allesse.ch
Le gite dispose de plusieurs chambres .
Bon et copieux petit déjeuner. Au final une bonne alternative à VERNAYAZ...
Automatic translation
[Google]
Absence of precise information on places to stay in VERNAYAZ, I found a bed and breakfast almost on the trail of the Via Alpina, close to Dorénaz at a place called ... Home Allesse very friendly a couple young French in a beautiful house above the Rhone Valley. I was their first "client" and the event was very watered properly! "AURORA" Bed and Breakfast in Aurora CRUNELLE 8 Road CHAMPEX to Allesse / Dorenaz Tel 00 41 (0) 79 613 21 20 or 00 41 (0) 27 722 09 68 Email: The cottage has aurore@allesse.ch several rooms. Good and hearty breakfast. Finally a good alternative to VERNAYAZ ...
Daniel - 2010-10-17
A little off the track is Cabane de Sex Carro. In the mist I passed this mini-refuge and the warden hailed me in, warmed me up with a cup of coffee. He pointed me the peak of the Mont Blanc as it appeared between the mists for a couple of seconds. Watch his doggy who gets over-excited when new guests arrive. He has a 10 bed dorm (CHF 10). Use this as an alternative to Vernayaz.
Daniel - 2010-10-17
Ugly Varnayaz has a supermarket, post office and a bank. The Cascade hotel, 1 km north, charges CHF 80 per night. The station near the railway station looked cheaper, but had its resting day when I arrived.
|
5h30 |
14.2 km
|
164 m
|
2063 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.