From Piedicavallo, cross the stream and take the broad bridleway which leads unambiguously to the Vecchia hut in about 2½ hours. Another hour takes the walker to the Vecchia pass, at 2185m of altitude, and Aosta Valley. Along with all the other passes on the border between the Piedmont and Aosta Valley, this pass was extremely important in the past, especially as routes through which to take the cattle to pasture in the summer. Trail 9, a bridleway, dates back to around 1877 and was built under orders from Senator Federico Rosazza. It is carved out of the rock, and there are over 400 bends along the way, covering an altitude difference of 1100 metres. It passes through a number of summer pastures and the landscape is typically alpine, with bushes and conifers. The trail leads into the Jatzet basin, with rhododendrons and larches, and to the pastures at Blatti and Fontane. From here the trail heads down into the valley through thick woods of Larch, Norway Spruce, Scots Pine and Beech. It passes through the villages of Tresinot, Beccaz and Lampouney and, still on trail no. 9, it leads to the village of Tzendelabò (1032m). Turn left and, after skirting round a sports ground and crossing the Salir stream, take the track that follows the course of the Lys stream and leads to Issime. The route heads through the villages of Hierrouss, Rickard and Zinneselu, which contain good examples of local architecture, in particular the chapel of the Visitation at Rickard. The stage ends at Issime (972 m), a small and charming Walser town in the Gressoney valley that offers all essential services and facilities.
(Regione Valle d’Aosta, Regione Piemonte)

Gaby, located in a beautiful basin, is a well-known summer resort and point of departure for day trips and excursions. The church of San Michele is not to be missed. It dates from the early ninth century and has a beautiful presbytery that is decorated with frescoes. The dialect spoken in this area is unusual in that despite being in the midst of German speaking communities - Gressoney-La Trinité, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Issime – a franco-provençale dialect is nevertheless spoken here. The famous Giosuè Carducci came to stay in Gaby and wrote the poem The Hostess of Gaby, where he not only describes the beauty of the landscape but also the kindness of his young hostess. Roughly 6km from Issime is the village of Fontainemore, which is worth a visit, especially because of the Mont Mars Regional Nature Reserve. The Reserve was set up in 1993 and covers the left leeward slope of the Lys valley. In it can be found a variety of plant life: woods interspersed with pastures, fields, lakes and marshland, rocky areas and cliff faces and high pastures that are still in use. The wildlife to be observed includes marmots, hares, chamois, mountain pheasant, the Ptarmigan and the Royal Eagle. For further information contact the visitors’ centre (+39 0125 832700) which also contains a natural history museum and a lecture hall. Fontainemore still harbours a medieval bridge leading to the church of Sant’ Antonio, which has a sculpted entrance portal dating from the 17th century. Every three years in August the traditional procession to the Black Madonna at the Shrine of Oropa near Biella begins here.

(Regione Valle d’Aosta, Regione Piemonte)