This walk is part of the trek Trek around Monte Viso in 5 days.
Beautiful stage, green at first, covered by neve at the pass then very floral in Guil Valley.
Calculated time: 5h30[?] 
Distance : 9.33mi
Vertical gain : 1394ft
Vertical drop : 3730ft
Highest point : 9301ft
Lowest point : 5571ft 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Areas : Alps, Queyras, Dauphiné 
Location : Pontechianale
Starting point : N 44.665958° / E 7.063992° 
Arrival : N 44.757281° / E 6.9928° Leave Refuge Vallanta heading north and climb up a steep trail to Col de Valante.
(1) At the pass, start heading north-west and cross the neve reaching scree. Next, head down the steep scree towards little Lac Lestio (2).
From there, follow the trail along the torrent (3).
Then, take the trail (4) heading towards Guil Valley and reaching Echalp. The loop is completed (A).
Waypoints :
D : mi 0 - alt. 7907ft
1 : mi 1.36 - alt. 9272ft - Col de Valante
2 : mi 2.34 - alt. 8261ft - Lac Lestio
3 : mi 2.7 - alt. 8045ft - Guil (rivière)
4 : mi 7.34 - alt. 6129ft - Petit Belvedère du Viso
A : mi 9.33 - alt. 5571ft - Gîte 7° Est
Neve at Col de Valante is present all year round. This part is generally done early morning so will most likely be frozen and slippery.
Be careful if you don't have cleats.
We advise taking IGN maps with you on this walk. Click here to buy : 3637OT, 3637OTR.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
A stunning view point on the west side of Monte Viso.
Echalp hamlet is worth a quick visit.
9.33mi
+1427ft
-3868ft
5h30
Difficult
Starting point in Pontechianale - Province de Cuneo This stage involves a pass with neves and crossing Refuge du Viso high berm then Guil valley.
8.53mi
+2740ft
-3396ft
6h20
Difficult
Starting point in Oncino - Province de Cuneo This stage gives you a frontline view over Monte Viso on one side and Pô prairie (plaine du Pô) on the other. Then a climb through Vallanta's small green valley.
7.81mi
+2500ft
-3179ft
5h45
Difficult
Starting point in Oncino - Province de Cuneo Italian stage through wild upper valleys and rocky wasteland, scattered by beautiful mountain lakes, consistantlyaround Monte Viso.
8.49mi
+4350ft
-3783ft
7h40
Very difficult
Starting point in Ristolas - 05 - Hautes-Alpes High mountain stage.
Progress within a mineral setting.
A hike up to the highest pass of the trek.
Stunning view over the Pô water sources from "Sentier du Postier."
9.95mi
+5620ft
-4774ft
9h30
Very difficult
Starting point in Bobbio Pellice - Province de Torino Quite a long high mountain stage today, set in a mineral landscape passing through "les sources du Pô" and near beautiful mountain lakes. Exploring the north-east side of Monte Viso (3841m) will be the highlight.
4.08mi
+2057ft
-1932ft
3h40
Difficult
Starting point in Ristolas - 05 - Hautes-Alpes This first stage is a warm-up for the rest. It's a medium mountain trek starting through larch trees before reaching alpine pastures surrounding the pass. A beautiful view over Pellice valley during the hike down.
37.23mi
+14308ft
-14295ft
5 days
Difficult
Starting point in Ristolas - 05 - Hautes-Alpes Trek around Monte Viso in 5 stages.
A beautiful high mountain hike.
Hike over a 5 day period.
An exquisite high mountain trek.
7.18mi
+4127ft
-1995ft
6h55
Difficult
Starting point in Ristolas - 05 - Hautes-Alpes First stage starting at Queyras National Park (Parc National du Queyras) passing through Col Lacroix, then a beautiful Italian valley and ending up at a shelter near a lake where the real trek around Monte Viso will start the next day.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
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