Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R120
Refuge de l'Archeboc » Le Monal
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2h55 |
12.8 km
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490 m
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639 m
From the Archeboc hut, the trail takes the regional GR® Tour de Haute-Tarentaise trail and then heads upward to circumvent the Ste Foy-Tarentaise resort to come out in the high Isère valley facing Mt Pourri. Next, it crosses woodland to reach the hamlet of Echaillon and then the listed hamlet of Le Monal, the stage destination.
Follow the path that starts behind the mountain hut, towards the little lake. Go down until Savonnes hamlet (1900 metres) and walk along the edge of the meadows till you enter the woods to reach a forest road. Walk not far from Foyères hamlet and reach the “Plan de St André – Planay Dessous” crossroads. Then take the path on your left and walk up to the Charmettes d’en haut parking. Continue along the path skirting the woods till the St Guérin (San Guerino) chapel. Go on towards Arpettaz hamlet, on the edge of St Foy station. Walk down along a ski track for about 200 metres and continue on your left into the woods till Echaillon hamlet. Walk on and reach Le Monal hamlet (1874 metres). (Henri Emprin, CDRP 73)
Natural and cultural heritage
From the Archeboc hut, Via Alpina borders the southern slopes of the little Mercuel valley between gneiss and alpine grass on the northern side and shiny shale in the process of disintegration on the southern side. This valley contains a plant that is typical of such surroundings, the “sickletop lousewort” (pedicularis recutita, entered in the red book of endangered floral species in France), one of the largest pink pedicularis flowers. It may also be possible to spot black grouse in the Grand Folliet forest. The trail takes the local GR® (long-distance hiking trail) around the Haute-Tarentaise area to leave via the high Isère valley uphill from Ste Foy, in the Planay meadowland. The hamlets of Miroir and Masure, situated on the opposite slopes close to the impressive Molluire landslip — where the landslide scar below the Bec Rouge (2,515m) is very easily distinguished — are characteristic of the Haute-Tarentaise habitat: pillared houses with wide-gabled rooftops and substantial building volumes using the gradient and conveying the feeling of security and wealth felt in medium-altitude villages. The black grouse, which lives on the opposite slopes, is the main protected species of the Hauts de Villarroger nature reserve (which stretches from the heights of the eponymous village to the Aiguille Rouge and Mount Turia at over 3,600m in altitude and buttresses Mount Pourri). It needs open countryside. This explains the creation of the reserve, which tends to preserve this openness by maintaining the farming activity needed to fight against the advance of the forest. Next, to avoid the overly urbanised lower zones, the trail climbs up close to the St Guérin chapel, mainly through forest, and then heads to the Arpettaz huts where it cuts across the slopes of the Ste Foy station before descending again to the hamlet of Echaillon. The section overhanging the hamlet is, moreover, reputed to be a winter pasture zone for chamois, thanks to its rocky configuration where the snow does not lie. The trial then continues to the hamlet of Le Monal, a listed site due to its great architectural, historical and landscape interest. In fact, this is a remarkable site sheltered by the larches and crossed by the Clou stream, the layout of which allows milk to be preserved in semi-buried caves close to the cooling water. The little Clou valley uphill from Le Monal has seen successive plans for ski stations or dams, but it has remained a wild place. The hamlet of Le Monal is typical of the region’s agri-pastoral system. It is a hamlet of remue, a type of mini-transhumance for local herds and not for those coming from Provence or elsewhere. These hamlets, also called montagnettes and situated halfway to the alpine pastureland used in the summer, were used as a temporary stop-off point to live in during the haymaking and regrowth seasons, when climbing up or returning down from the pastureland. (Nicolas Aubertin, Gilles Chappaz, Grande Traversée des Alpes)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Houdayer Alain - 2022-09-07
Apparemment il y'a plus de gite à Le Monal,meme pas pour boire un coup.
Socrate Georgiades - 2019-09-06
Excellent spot de bivouac 10mn avant le Monal, sur la droite, le long de la rivière. Et au Monal, rendez visite à Yvette qui vend son fromage, extraordinaire Beaufort!
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Excellent bivouac spot 10 minutes before the Monal, on the right, along the river. And at Monal, visit Yvette who sells her cheese, extraordinary Beaufort!
Ptitbouc69 - 2018-09-06
Nous avons dormi à la mi-août au refuge du Monal. Le moins qu'on puisse dire, c'est que l'accueil... et bien il n'y en a pas. Le gardien est un ours qui devrait renoncer à ce genre de travail et surtout les contacts sociaux car, si le refuge est joli, très propre et sa cuisine très bonne, quand on entre, on n'a très rapidement envie de tourner talon et de trouver un autre refuge où l'on ne s'enrhumera pas tant l'accueil y est glacial. Nous lui avons demandé la météo pour le lendemain et ils nous a répondu que de toute façon, à partir de la mi-août, il y a des orages tous les soirs. On a fait avec...
L'un d'entre nous a pris un pique nique : Un sandwich (grand certes) et une pomme. Prix : 10E. Ouf ! Enfin, le tarif du refuge : 55E. Le plus cher et le moins bien de tout ceux que nous avons fait durant cette semaine de randonnée autour du Ruitor.
Il a 10 places mais nous n'étions que 3. Nous comprenons mieux pourquoi maintenant.
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We stayed in mid-August at the Monal refuge. The least we can say is that the reception ... well there is none. The guardian is a bear who should give up this kind of work and especially social contacts because, if the refuge is pretty, very clean and very good food, when you enter, you very quickly want to turn heel and find another refuge where you will not get so angry the reception is cold. We asked him the weather for the next day and they told us that anyway, from mid-August, there are thunderstorms every night. We did with ... One of us took a picnic: A sandwich (big indeed) and an apple. Price: 10E. Phew! Finally, the shelter's price: 55E. The most expensive and least of all we did during this week of hiking around the Ruitor. He has 10 places but we were only 3. We understand better why now.
After "Les Charmettes d'en haut" there were many trees down. trail can be difficult to follow. In addition some overgrown bushes blocking the trail. There is a river that you must cross to reach "Refuge de l'Archeboc." it is quite dangerous an there are not any stones to safely step on. Be careful! "Refuge de l'Archeboc" is an OK place. very basic portions of food, and bare minimum hospitality. Do not go in expecting a lot.
SANCHEZ - 2016-06-25
Le gardien du refuge du Monal n'a rien à faire dans un refuge. Il refuse d'ouvrir si cela ne l'intéresse pas invoquant des prétexte et mentant pour se débarrasser. Il m'envoie vers le gîte de Chenal sachant qu'il est fermé depuis 2 ans puis me dit d'aller à Sation Bonconseil alors que la station est vide. Enlevez les 3 lettres de début et de fin et reste le gardien
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The guardian of the Monal refuge has nothing to do in a shelter. He refuses to open if it does not interest him invoking pretense and lying to get rid of. He sends me to the cottage of Chenal knowing that it is closed for 2 years then told me to go to Sation Bonconseil while the station is empty. Remove the 3 start and end letters and stay the guardian
Elisabeth - 2015-10-14
Très mal indiqué : flèche pour le gîte P. Chenal mais pas pour Le Monal ! Pas de panneaux aux intersections, temps sous-estimé.
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Very poorly marked: arrow to lodging but not for P. Chenal Le Monal! No signs at intersections, time underestimated.
About refuge de l'archeboc : think what Henk is telling below is totally true and the owners which used to be rude may have suffered from bad publicity since 3years. Ok enough, was curious and stopped by to eat something..the food served (very light salad for 8euros) and can really feel guilt from the owners. They are just not good host. the boss is an Orso. They are the only refuge in the area, so people will keep coming even if the service is bad..
the sheeperd in Aosta, 3h15 from the refuge will host you for free on the other side..Aosta another world with kind and warm people
about le gite Le Monal. The owner is only interested in making $..won t bother opening just for one person
Dom Lalot - 2013-09-01
Le gîte du Monal est très beau mais m'a semblé bien cher. On peut continuer et faire un petit détour pour aller au camping des Brévières. L'accueil y est sympa. Le village (à 10 mn) a un petit commerce et des restaurants. Les propriétaires m'ont donné une belle carte de la via alpina.
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The cottage is beautiful Monal but seemed very expensive. We can continue and make a detour to go camping Brévières. The staff is nice. The Village (10 minutes) has a small shopping area and restaurants. The owners gave me a beautiful card via alpina.
Via Alpina France - 2013-04-18
Le gîte d'étape le Chenal est fermé pour raisons personnelles jusqu'à nouvel ordre.
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The rest house is closed for the Channel personal reasons until further notice.
EMPRIN Henri - 2011-07-02
l'horaire de l'étape 2h 55 est trop rapide pour des randonneurs classiques Les topos donnent 3h40
Si le Refuge du Monal est complet vous avez à 25 minutes le Gite d'Etape de Chenal Tél 04/79/06/93/63, Il est sur l'itinéraire
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schedule step 2h 55 is too fast for hikers give topos Classic 3:40
If the Refuge Monal is complete you 25 minutes of the Gite d'Etape Tel 04/79/06/93/63 Channel, is on the route
I spent the night in "Gite d'etape de Chenal". They have a really nice accommodation for hikers. Also the food (isn't this the most important part :-) ) was amazingly good!!!
To save one day, it's possible to joint this day track with the previous one (Valgrisenche->Le Monal) since the time specification in the guidebook isn't really accurate.
Gite d'etape de Chenal
73640 Sainte-Foy
tel.: 0479069363
henk - 2010-09-25
Cette été, on a passé nos vacances à Bourg saint Maurice.
un jour, on avait réservé une nuitée au refuge de l'archeboc, que j'ai appelé deux fois pour savoir ce qu'on devait emmener et prévoir, se serait notre premier aventure dans un gîte.
on pars d'en bas, du site d'escalade et on motive notre fille de 4 ans de faire les 600 m de dénivelé toute seule en lui motivant en cueillant des baies, de regarder des marmottes, du fait qu'elle allait dormir dans un refuge en haut de la montagne, etc,...
après 3 h de marche on arrives au refuge. on rentre dans la salle et on dis bonjour, sans plus.
on retourne dehors et on se met derrière pour profiter du coucher du soleil.
des autres gens invitent notre fille à visiter les chambres. je la suis et on redescends par les escaliers pour arriver dans la grande salle.
en arrivant là, le gérant nous demande si on viens de descendre avec nos chaussures. je dis oui et je vois que ça ne plait pas. je prends la remarque "ça commence bien", je me mets dans le couloir et j'enlève mes chaussures, vraiment gêné....
ma femme rentres par la porte principale, je lui dit d'enlever les chaussures et on se mets à une table. ma femme va demander si on peut savoir ou est notre chambre et le gérant continues sur son élan. "déjà votre mari il est monté avec ses chaussures,prenez garde". quand elle demandait si on pouvait monter à notre chambre tout seul, il répondait "sûrement pas, vous ne montez pas tout seul".
on était choqué! on s'est remis à une table et après un quart d'heure on à attaqué notre descente vers notre voiture...vraiment dégoûte, en essayant d'expliquer le pourquoi à notre fille.
arrivé en bas, on reçoit le sms suivant (j'avais donné mon portable pour réserver): "vous nous devez 30 eur. cela devrait vous tenir éloigné mr malappris. grossier merde!"
encore plus choqué de cette accueil, je réponds qu'il peut venir les chercher à midi à BSM et que je lui mettrai en place, et il réponds "oubliez moi! dormez en paix et apprenez à bien vous conduire"
j'ai répondu en lui disant qu'il entendra encore de moi....
je trouve que c'est grave d'avoir un accueil comme celui là, surtout que nulle part il y a marqué que le gite est interdit avec des chaussures...
henk
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This summer we spent our holiday in Bourg Saint Maurice. one day, we booked a night at the Refuge de l'Archeboc, I called twice to know what we had to take and plan, would our first adventure in a cottage. we start from below, from the climbing site, and it motivates our 4 year old daughter to the 600 m elevation alone motivating him picking berries, watch marmots, because she was going to sleep in a top of the mountain refuge, etc ... after 3 hours of walking we arrived at the shelter. we go into the room and say hello, no more. is turned off and gets behind to enjoy the sunset. other people invite our daughter to visit the rooms. I am and back down the stairs to get into the great hall. arriving there, the manager asked us if we just go down with our shoes. I say yes and I see that they do not like. I take the remark "it begins well" I put myself in the hallway and I take off my shoes, really embarrassed .... my wife come home through the front door, I told him to take off shoes and put himself in a table. my wife will ask if we can know where is our room and the manager continued its momentum. "Your husband is already fitted with shoes, be careful." when she asked if we could go up to our room alone, he replied "certainly not, you do not stand alone." we were shocked! it was handed over to a table and after fifteen minutes we attacked in our descent to our car ... really disgusted, trying to explain why our daughter. came downstairs the following sms is received (I gave my mobile to book): "you owe us 30 eur this should keep you away mr rude unmannerly shit..!" even more shocked this home, I answer that he can pick them up at noon in BSM and I will put it in place, and answer "forget me sleep in peace and learn to behave properly" I answered saying he still hear me .... I think it is serious to have a home like this, especially as there is nowhere marked the cottage is prohibited with shoes ... henk
Une autre alternative pour l'hébergement sur cette étape : le gite le Chenal à 30 mn, après le Monal, sur la Via Alpina. Passez un coup de fil avant pour assurer une réservation, mais l'accueil y est très chaleureux
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Another alternative for hosting this stage: the cottage Channel 30 minutes after Monal on the Via Alpina. Have a call before to ensure a reservation, but the welcome is very warm
Via Alpina International Secretariat - 2009-09-28
Please note that it is essential to book in advance to stay at the Archeboc hut. The hut is open from late June until early September (no winter room available). - Nathalie Morelle, Via Alpina International Secretariat
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.