Crest – Fournier

A gentle route with little ascent, doable in half a day, which allows you to enjoy lunch at the restaurant located in the charming village of Crest Dessous.
Visiting the villages immerses us in life of the past, with chapels, schools, fountains, ovens, and the hard work required to cultivate such steep terrain.
The section from Crest to Barmafumo and the return along the canal includes some stretches crossing steep slopes, which should not be attempted in very wet or slippery conditions, or when there is snow or ice.
The return follows the water canal leading to the Hône hydroelectric plant, with a short exposed section equipped with a fixed safety rope that must be navigated with care.
The route is short and allows, at the end, a stop in the village of Crest Dessous, where the restaurant "La louye su la goumba" offers traditional local cuisine.
In winter (from November to March), the access road to the Crest hamlet is closed.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn left towards Aosta. At the roundabout, continue to the left, still heading towards Aosta.
Continue past Donnas and reach Bard; after the town, at the roundabout, turn left towards Champorcher.
Pass through the village of Hône and enter the Val di Champorcher.
Continue to Pontboset; at the end of the village, turn left onto the road descending to the hamlet. After two hairpin bends, cross the stream and proceed for a few hundred metres to find, on the right, the steep road ascending to Crest, which is followed to its end.
From the Verrès tollgate, turn right towards Turin, pass Arnad until the roundabout, where you turn right towards Champorcher.

From the car park, ascend towards the village for about ten metres and take the Alta Via No. 2 mule track to the left. Follow it for a stretch, then turn right and at the first fork take a right again to reach the village of Crest Dessus.
This village is situated on a sunny hillock. Visit the small church and the “dortoir” (a small unmanaged refuge and the old village school), imagining life in times gone by.
Return through the village to find the path which, after an initial climb, continues with undulating sections, including some slightly exposed stretches, until reaching the bridge over the Manda stream.
Just after the bridge, take a small path on the left which in a few dozen metres leads to the remains of the mill.
Returning to the main path, continue on level ground, pass a small ladder, and reach the houses of Barmafumo where the road arrives. Follow the mule track just below the road until you reach the old school and the chapel of Fournier, both worth a stop.
Continue along the mule track until reaching the road, which is followed downhill to the first hairpin bend.
At this point, take the path passing above the Hône hydroelectric channel; after a slightly exposed stretch equipped with a fixed rope for safety, reach the bridge and arrive just above the village of Crest Dessous, finishing with a final steep descent to the restaurant “La Louye su la Goumba.”