Colle di Bassa Serra, from Pont Serrand

Access

From the motorway exit at Morgex, go up the main road to Pré-Saint-Didier and from there head towards La Thuile. On reaching La Thuile, climb up towards the Petit St Bernard Pass, pass Pont Serrand and proceed to the sixth hairpin bend. In the middle of the hairpin bend, on the right, after the signs for Mont Laityre, a small car park precedes the dirt road, signpost number , which you should follow.

Introduction

Description

0h00' From the car park, follow the dirt road that, amidst a few fir trees, descends slightly towards the Dora di Verney until the turning to the right towards the bridge over the stream. The track now proceeds keeping slightly above the plateau until it rejoins the dirt road. A steep ascent up the grassy slope, on a track that is confused by the numerous cattle passages, leads to the Chanté mountain pasture (1993m).

0h40' Above the mountain pasture, take the dirt track again as far as Plan-Veyle (2080m, 0h50').

On the right, again between confused tracks, the path climbs up and, after a short distance, crosses the sign for the Laityre. Keeping to the left with a moderate incline, go up the valley past the ruins of Biolettaz and, below the slopes of Mont Ouille, pass to the right of what remains of the Entre-deux-Eaux pastureland. After approaching the copious waterfalls, the path turns first to the right and then to the left, gains a shelf and a few microscopic ponds, and climbs to a puddle and the Crotti alpine pasture. After a short uphill stretch, a slightly downhill diagonal leads to the valley of the Dora di Verney springs. To the right, climb up some grassy knolls and, with the splendid backdrop of the Aiguille des Glaciers, you will reach the Colle di Bassa Serra (2,737m, 3h00'), near the remains of a military barracks.

On a clear day, the view of the Mont Blanc range is incredible.

The return is along the same route.