Alpine Passes Trail

The stage starts off in grand style with an impressive view of the Mont Blanc massif on one side and a steel-blue reservoir on the other. The Lac d'Emosson is surrounded by a stunning flora and mountain scenery. Originally, its gravity dam was 78 metres high. In 1974, it was extended to 180 metres, increasing the volume of the lake from 40 to 227 million cubic metres.

The unofficial lower Valais "high route" starts at the car park in front of the dam wall. The first few minutes take you through a tunnel. The cold draught reminds you that you are already at an altitude of 2000 metres. Leaving the tunnel, a fantastic view of the lake and the surrounding mountains opens up, contrasted by the pretty flowering plants along the way. You continue to follow the reservoir until shortly before it ends. There the trail branches off to the right and continues uphill. You now have to climb up for some 500 metres. You reach the Col de Barberine after just under two and a half hours.

The green vegetation is now replaced by a gravel field. Well camouflaged, chamois feel very much at home here. With the second pass always in sight, you now descend for almost an hour before climbing up again for a while longer. The view from the Col d'Emaney of the mountains around the Aiguilles du Tour and the Lac de Salanfe is fantastic.

Another descent follows. If you look closely, you can see ibexes below the Pointes d'Aboillon. Further down the valley, cows graze on the banks of the Lac de Salanfe. After almost six hours, the stage ends at the Auberge de Salanfe, where you can have everything from a cool drink to a bed for the night.