The ascent is pleasant

Guide book exploration in the Val d'Aosta, Italy

I have several very good ski guide books including the now out of print Anselme Baud "book of death" that can reach €500 on eBay. However, up until recently I hadn't owned any mountain bike related books. This changed when DIRT Mag (R.I.P) mentioned a Val d'Aosta guide book.

The best thing about spring is being able to take part in your favourite winter and summer sports. So on my first day off, straight after the most recent storm to hit Cham we were up in the first bin of the Aiguille du Midi to ski the Cosmiques Couloir. I could have turned home satisfied after my first turn which kicked snow up well over my head. But it was rude not to carry on searching...

Accessing the couloir

The next day after reports of muddy Chamonix trails it was time to go to the "sunny side of Mont Blanc" in search of dry trails. I flicked through my new book and found one suitable just 20 minutes from the exit of the Mont Blanc tunnel. "The ascent is pleasant" it said about the 800 vertical metre climb. Doesn't sound too bad. "The descent is technical, but extremely fun" Lets go Rich!

More up

After some bonus climbing into an unsuccessful trail exploration we went back to the guide book route. The snow had gone all the way up on these south facing slopes so it was easy going bar the last hike-a-bike for 100 metres. The main descent started straight into high speed smooth singletrack, a few switchbacks to make sure our brakes were working and we popped out in the meadows above a mountain hamlet. We rested briefly in the village, but were excited for more goodness. We searched for a trail entrance but missed the higher trail head but luckily found it again on a lower firewood switchback. And what a treat it was! It was the stand out section of the day; a fast, smooth pine cone and pine needle covered trail with, like Switzerland, just perfect switchbacks.

As we got lower the trail became rockier with tighter switchbacks, not quite as good as higher up due to the lower speeds, but you can't complain at turn after turn of singletrack can you now!? OR can you, when potentially out there in Aosta Valley are longer more perfect trails???

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Aiguille de la Grande Sassiere 3751m

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What guides do between work in the peak of July

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