Col de Brison, from Le Closé

Introduction

The Col de Brison, a modest pass separating Mont Faceballa from the Pointes d'Ollomont, connects the Comba di Brison with the Comba de Berrio. The itinerary follows the Alta Via 1, through dense woodland (except for the final section) and across some alpine pastures that are now reduced to ruins.

Description

From the small car park at Close (1457m), near the fountain, enter the village and immediately turn right onto the porphyry cube road through the village (signpost AV1). After the last houses, the road becomes a path between two low walls and reaches the dirt track that starts near Condamine. Follow the dirt track to the left until you reach a small meadow, which you climb back up to the right on a rough path. After crossing the dirt track again, cut across a new hairpin bend and, near the next hairpin bend, turn onto the path to the left, finally leaving the dirt track for Peson. Initially over meadows and then through sparse woodland, the trail climbs just above Alpe Eclevey, crosses the Baudier stream and the Veynes stream and then enters the Suchéaz forest. Coming out of the forest, a bend to the right leads to the Alpe Suchéaz meadows (1995m, 1h30'). Notice to the north-east the mountains at the head of the Valpelline. Passing between the alpine pasture houses and crossing the small plateau at the back, climb to the left again through the forest to Alpe Brison (2195m, 2h15'), where you cross the trail marker (3C) for Valpelline on the left and Plan Meulet on the right. Behind the houses of the Alpe Brison, on the left, the path starts again on the grassy slope, which, with a long diagonal, leads across the streams of the Grand Combe. One last long diagonal and you reach the Col de Brison (2195m, 3h15'). Note to the south west Mont Faceballa and to the north the peaks above the Conca di By.
The return follows the same route: down to Alpe Brison (2195m, 0h35'), then to Alpe Suchéaz (1995m, 1h05') and finally to the village of Close (1457m, 2h10').

General information

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