Costa Portola, from Sassa

Introduction

A very varied circular route that begins between terraces, then follows a stretch of road, larch forests and beautiful clearings. The route is rarely marked and therefore requires good route finding skills, both uphill and downhill. It is best undertaken with plenty of snow and by those who enjoy a bit of low-altitude adventure.

Description

Pass along the side of the little church to climb up onto the first terrace, continue for a stretch on the level and then climb up to the left, overcoming (sometimes with some difficulty) the successive low walls. This brings you to a first road. Follow it to the right on the level until the end, then climb up the upper slopes until you reach the road again. Follow it to the right for a few hundred metres until you come out above the Etoile de Berger restaurant (in recent years, unfortunately, this last stretch is sometimes cleaned by snowploughs). Continue along the road for a stretch and then climb up the beautiful slopes to the left, pass a few houses and enter a sparse larch forest. On leaving the forest, you arrive at the houses of Pra de Bosc. Continue along beautiful slopes until reaching Col Portola. To the right along the wide ridge, it is easy to reach Costa Portola. There is a beautiful view of Monte Rosa and nearby Mont Mars. On the descent, upon reaching Pra de Bosc, follow the road to the right until reaching a beautiful house. Descend into the sparse larch forest and then move to the right to the beautiful slopes leading to the houses of Prà Pian. Keep to the left of the houses and descend along slopes and terraces until you reach the road. (Sometimes the road is passable up to this point, which can become the start and finish of the itinerary). Cross it and continue to the right of the ridge along terracing to reach the morning road. A last stretch between the terraces takes you to the little church.