Retempio and Col Pousseuil

This route follows a section of the Alta Via No. 2, which runs from Courmayeur to Donnas.
The path reaches the sanctuary of Retempio, located in a beautiful clearing, which can also serve as the finishing point for those who do not wish to complete the entire route.
From the Retempio sanctuary, the path is less well marked and follows a long shady valley until it emerges at Col Pousseuil.
From the pass, all the peaks separating this area of the Aosta Valley from Piedmont are clearly visible.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn left towards Aosta. At the roundabout, continue on the left, still in the direction of Aosta.
Proceed 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, and at the end of the settlement, take the road on the left that descends to the village.
After three hairpin bends, cross the stream and continue for a few hundred metres to the right-hand side, where the steep road climbs up to Crest; follow it to the end.
From the Verrès tollgate, turn right towards Turin, pass Arnad until the roundabout, and turn right towards Champorcher.

From the car park, ascend towards the village for about ten metres and take the mule track of the Alta Via No. 2 to the left.
After a short ascent, the path continues on level ground following the line of the water canal that leads to the Hône hydroelectric plant.
Follow it, cross the bridge, and then take the path on the right, which climbs steeply into the woods via a staircase of large stone blocks.
The path continues steeply through the forest until emerging in the clearing below the sanctuary of Retempio.
By a less steep route, first reach the dortoir and then the sanctuary itself, which is worth a pause.
From the sanctuary, the path ascends along the ridge behind, then almost levels off to the left to reach the alpine pasture of Valsemma.
Now climb to the right along the small valley, passing through patches of sparse woodland, rhododendrons, and small clearings, until, via a steeper section, you reach Col Pousseuil.
The return is made along the same route.