Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R134
Maljasset » Chiappera
Trail crossing
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4h50 |
15.84 km
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761 m
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1049 m
Just after leaving Maljasset, the trail turns off to the east into the grassy valley of Mary to reach the pass by the same name, which opens out onto Italy. The route follows the Maurin valley downwards, past Lake Sagna to the hamlet of Chiappera at the bottom of the valley, near the imposing Rocca Provenzale fortress.
At the fork in the trail after the Maurin chapel, head down the track to the right to cross the Ubaye river. Opposite this, climb up through the larch wood until reaching the Alpet stream. The track then joins the old marble quarry track, which is left behind on the left on reaching a wide terrace. Continue, climbing back up the little Mary valley across meadowland. Leave the trail that descends to the right towards the Pierre André peak. On a level with the upper Mary shepherd’s hut and just before reaching it, leave the trail heading to the Marinet lake to the right and then a little later, the trail that branches off to the left towards the Rourre lakes. Every so often, the trail uses an old track paved by the Italians to reach the pass. At the pass, take note of the letterbox placed there by the "Alpes sans Frontières" association. (Hubert Tassel, CDRP 04)
Natural and cultural heritage
Head back up the watercourse leaving from Maljasset, and you will come across the listed church of St Antoine de Maurin, built in the XIIIth century in the beautiful meadowland setting. It was destroyed by an avalanche in 1531, only to be restored then in pink Guillestre marble (pink and red coloured limestone). Only one typical alpine chapel is attached to it, as each hamlet has its own. Numerous mission crosses in larch wood frame the onward trail in memory of the rare ceremonies given by a priest to baptise or hear all of the confessions of the inhabitants of this isolated region. Before plunging down into the Mary valley (etymologically derived from the word “mauvais” or “bad”), a few remains of a green marble quarry (serpentine veined with white limestone) can be distinguished in the middle of the woods. In operation from 1838 until the Second World War, the serpentinite was used for a number of buildings such as the steps of the Garnier opera or the pillars of the street lamps on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The trail then starts the climb up the valley, which is decorated with a Passour cross reminding us of one of the signs of the Passion of Christ, to reach the Mary pass. It passes one sheepfold after another at the foot of the igneous rocky peaks ranging from dark green to orange. In fact, the quartzite Pierre André point is named in memory of the shepherd who climbed it for the first time. Its profile still makes it a popular spot for modern-day climbing, despite its all-in-all rather modest height. The passage of the troops and their canons at the time of the Franco-Italian conflicts and then of the flocks of sheep have left their mark on this wide, grassy valley. This is an area which demonstrates astonishing geological specifities. Between the famous, pinkish Aiguilles de Chambeyron and the Brec de l’Homme mountains stand rocky glaciers (34 of which are still active in Ubaye), glaciers covered over time by considerable layers of rock in the form of lumps of limestone scree that appear to flow like lava. This phenomenon is particularly visible at the foot of the northern slope of the Aiguille du Chambeyron peak, there where the rocky scree of the Marinet glacier are almost hurled down into the emerald green lakes of the same name. Leaving behind this particularity, which Man has taken years to explain, the trail reaches the Mary pass, which features a real letterbox that anyone can fill or empty to take the letters to the nearest post office… This tradition, still alive today, has the merit of perpetuating Franco-Italian exchanges and of acknowledging the geographical proximity of the two countries. Indeed, Via Alpina benefited from this in 2002, the year of its inauguration: the French postman climbed to the pass to collect the letters brought by the French and Italian delegations who had arranged to meet each other on the pass to celebrate this event! (Sara Zeidler, 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.
Berta - 2018-08-17
In Chiappera ist etwas außerhalb des wunderschönen Ortes das Campo Base +393348416041, praktisch zum nächtigen. Sehr freundliches Personal, gutes Essen und reichliches Frühstück. Lager mit Halbpension f 46€ pro Person
Automatic translation
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In Chiappera, just outside the beautiful village, is the Campo Base +393348416041, practically the night. Very friendly staff, good food and ample breakfast. Camp with half board f 46 € per person
frankie9594 - 2017-10-14
Monaco- Trieste
After crossing Col de Mary, some streams and water that might make the trail difficult. Another beautiful stage. There are two shepherd houses along the trail. Possible to bivouac next to the house.
Maljasset has at least 3 places to sleep. Great people at the "Refuge Club Alpin Francais de Maljasset."
Possible to bivouac by the river as well. Ask permission first.
When I got in Chiappera I found the Base Camp Refuge was let to a children group, And all other places full. The only hotel was Londra in Acceglio, 10 km down the valley. Very luxurious but affordable. Friendly, good food. The owner will pick you up by car from Chiappera or even Chialvetta, And put you back the next day. He will also arrange the next reservation for you. Recommended. Tel. 0039 347 435 1662
tof - 2015-05-17
Trieste-Monaco
le 7/10/14. Une petite étape pour aller dormir à la bergerie sup. de Mary. Refuge non gardé ouvert, propre, matelas. De l'eau de source à côté.
le 8/10/14. Passage en Italie. Descente sur Chiappera et pause repas midi au refuge de Campo Base. Ouf ! un ilot de ressources. La réputation accueillante des refuges italiens est encore au rendez-vous! Repas complet, bon, prix sympa et bon accueil. Prêt à reprendre la route. Direction le bivouac Danilo Sartore, sous le col du sautron.
Bivouac de luxe, bien entretenu, pourvu que ça dure. Pas d'eau, des couvertures et matelas. Voir l'histoire de cet alpiniste mort en montagne: http://www.bivaccodanilosartore.eu/home.html
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Trieste-Monaco on 10/7/14. A small step to go to sleep sup fold. Mary. Refuge unguarded open, clean mattress. Source of water nearby. the 10/8/14. Passage in Italy. Descent on Chiappera noon lunch break and refuge Campo Base. Phew! a resource block. The reputation of Italian welcoming shelters is still in there! Complete meal, good, nice price and good reception. Ready to hit the road. Direction bivouac Sartore Danilo, under the collar of sautron. Luxury Bivouac, well maintained, long may it last. No water, blankets and mattresses. See the history of this mountain climber death: http://www.bivaccodanilosartore.eu/home.html
About 1h30 from rifugio Campo Base to Colle dell Maurin
From Colle Maurin Via Alpina goes straight down towards Maljasset...
Took left towards nearby Col de Marinet 2784m
Lots of snow left in mid June 2013. Great way down to reach opened Bivouac Marinet
From Colle Maurin to Col Marinet 50min on the snow... 50mins of going down very quickly on the snow to reach bivouac Marinet surronded by 1m of snow with ice inside (one of the greatest bivouac of the all Via Alpina journey for me)
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4h50 |
15.84 km
|
761 m
|
1049 m
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.