Col de la Fricolla

Access

Leaving the motorway At the Pont-Saint-Martin toll booth, turn left and join the SS26, following it as far as Bard. Shortly afterwards, you will come to a roundabout and the junction for Champorcher. Cross the Dora Baltea and enter the village of Hône, where the SR2 road through the Champorcher Valley begins. Drive up the valley, passing Pontboset and the villages of Savin, Salleret and Dublanc. Just before the village of Mellier, at a hairpin bend, turn left towards Outrelève. From here, the road descends, crossing the Ayasse stream, before climbing again to the picturesque village of Outrelève, where you can park your car in a large car park (13.5 km from the start of the SR2).
For those coming from the upper valley, we recommend taking the motorway exit at Verrès, then turning right onto the SS26 until the junction for Champorcher (8 km).
To reach Crest, once you reach Pontboset, turn right and follow the signs for the centre. Cross the Ayasse stream and pass through the small hamlet of Vaseras, then take a steep little road on the right which, after an endless series of hairpin bends, leads to Crest, where you can leave your car.

Routes to the pass

• from Outrelève, trail (4), T3, 5h00, Elevation gain 1,320 m – western slope

• from Crest, trail (4) – AV2, T2, 4h15’, elevation gain 1,460 m – eastern slope

Introduction

The Col de la Fricolla links the two inner valleys situated on the orographic right-hand side of the Champorcher valley. The pass has gained some notoriety since 2006, when the Alta Via 2 of the Aosta Valley began to pass through it.

Description

The hill is quite broad and is nestled between the peaks of Mont de la Fricolla and Monte dei Corni; the path on the western slope is stony but very well signposted, whilst the eastern slope appears slightly grassier.

Information

Altitude: 2,540 m
Alternative name: Colle della Fricolla, Col de l’Alleigne
Mountain range: Corni sub-range

Routes

• Dortoir Crest