Punta di Laval

Punta Laval is placed Southeast of Col St. Marcel (2.905m), a pass connecting Vallone del Grauson and Vallone di St. Marcel (which final part is somewhere named Vallone di Fenêtre). It consists of two separated summits, visible from both Vallone di Grauson and Walloon of Saint Marcel. Point 3.091m is surmounted from a small cairn, whereas quota 3.102m doesn't have any signal. The two summits are separated from a nearly flat ridge. The majestic panorama from the peak takes many summits of the Valle d'Aosta in at a glance, in addition to the nearby Punta Tersiva and the complete Emilius Group. The list includes Matterhorn, Grand Combin, and both Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa Groups. Mont Blanc Group is hidden and only a small portion of Grandes Jorasses is visible through the far narrow window of Passo dei Tre Cappuccini.

 

 

La Punta di Laval è posta a Sudest del Colle di Saint Marcel (2.905 m), formante il passaggio di collegamento tra il Vallone del Grauson e quello di St. Marcel (nella parte finale è conosciuto col nome di Vallon de Fenêtre). Si compone di due cime separate, visibili da entrambi i suddetti valloni. La Sommità 3.091 m è sormontata da un ometto, mentre la successiva Quota 3.102 m non ne possiede alcuno. Le cime son separate da una cresta quasi rettilinea. Il maestoso panorama dalla vetta comprende molte Vette della Valle d'Aosta a colpo d'occhio, oltre la vicina Punta Tersiva e l'intero Gruppo dell'Emilius. L'elenco comprende dal Cervino, al Grand Combin per andare ad entrambi i Gruppi del Gran Paradiso e del Monte Rosa. Il Gruppo del Monte Bianco è nascosto e solo una piccola parte delle Grandes Jorasses è visibile attraverso la stretta finestra costituita dal Passo dei Tre Cappuccini.

First Ascent

• First on the summit: Unknown.
• In winter: Unknown.

Getting There

BY CAR:

• From Torino, Milano, etc: Motorway A5. Exit in Aosta Ovest. Drive to the near Aymavilles. Follow in the direction of Valle di Cogne.
• From Switzerland: through the Grand St. Bernard Tunnel or the homonym Pass). Drive to Aosta, then follow Courmayeur direction on SS.26. Just after Sarre, turn to the left, in the direction of Valle di Cogne.
• From France: through Mont Blanc Tunnel or Petit St. Bernard Pass). It isn't necessary to enter in Motorway A5, you can drive through SS.26 Aosta direction. Before arriving at the Village of Sarre, follow the sign and turn right towards Valle di Cogne.After Aymavilles, the SR.47 crosses the Villages of Vieyes, Epinel and Cretaz and after about 25 Km. arrives at Cogne (1.534m). Follow the road signs for Gimillan and Lillaz; arrived at a round-about, recently built in proximity of the St. Anthony Chapel, go left along the scenic route leading to the Village of Gimillan (1.787m), 3 Km. after Cogne. Usually no parking problem.

 

Punta Laval shares its route with the nearby Punta Gianni Vert. Difference in height: about 1.304m Ascent time: 4-5 hours. Descent: along the ascent route. Go right starting from the car park of Gimillan (1.787m): after few meters the indications for Lussert Lakes, St. Marcel Pass, etc. are found. The pathway is indicated by the yellow circle and by yellow strips marked on stones along the route. The path begins going immediately uphill, then the slope decreases as we go beyond a little chapel dedicated to the Virgin (1.836m). Soon the path resumes to go up and splits in two, before it begins to penetrate into the Grauson Valley: it's possible to continue following the right one that goes down as far as the Ecloseur Bridge (1.904m), but in such a case we must go up again; it's better to follow the left one that, in practice without losing height, arrives at the bridge under the Alpeggio Pila (2.025m), cross it and, following the stepped pathway, overcome the rocky bastion beside a fine waterfall (at the left). At this point the path turns right markedly, entering, high on the torrent, into a small valley; by an alternation of steep and slight slopes, it reaches a panoramic cross, on the edge of a pleasant plateau (superb view of the far La Grivola!). The path goes through the meadows, slightly descendind: after the Alpi di Grauson Vecchie (2.271m), cross the torrent on the Pikaciù Bridge and by a steep trail beside the stream, reach the wide upper part of the Grauson Valley, where the same splits with the branch-Grauson Lussert North towards homonim lochs and the Tessonet-Doreire to the East, below the Punta Tersiva and at the end of the divide between the Valleys addressed in Cogne and that of Saint Marcel. At the junction before Alpeggio Pralognan (about 2.400m), instead of going straight ahead along the pathway n° 8/TVC leading to the head of Vallone di Grauson, go left till to Alpeggio Grauson Nuove (2.540m), through the ramification to Lussert with path n° 8A, where once there was the burned Tentori Bivouac. Just on the right of the building, go along the pathway, indicated by the yellow circle and by yellow strips marked on stones along the route but with the derivation of the path n° 8B/102, in the direction of the Coronas (or Corona) Lake: cross a brook and by broad hairpin bends, after a small lake on the left, reach the Coronas Lake (2.702m). Cross the effluent of the lake and continue on the right as far as the Saint Marcel Hill or Corona (2.916m), about 1h'45 hours starting from the junction with the pathway n° 8A. After the pass, the pathway becomes intuitive, keep always right and begin to ascend the Punta Laval along the NW side, paying attention since the route goes on along wrecks and broken rocks. After about 40' the double summit of Punta Laval is reached (3.091m / 3.102m), just in front of Punta Gianni Vert (3.148m). Pay attention in the case of snow, in particular during the crossing between the two summits of Punta Laval: stay always under the ridge, avoiding to walk on the snowy cornices, lethal in the event of collapse.

 

No restriction at all: Punta Laval is very near but outside the borders of the Gran Paradiso National Park and Monte Avic Natural Park.