Bivacco Luca Reboulaz

The place

Sleeping places: 24 Places on mattress: 24 This small stone-built chalet replaced the half-barrel metal prefab (dedicated to Franco Nebbia, now moved to the Cogne valley) that offered no more than 6 places. Always open. Equipment: - Bunks with mattresses, blankets, pillows. - 2 large tables - 4 benches - 1 wood stove (no firewood nearby, but a sizeable stock behind the refuge, to be used sparingly...) - Piped water arriving at a trough by the refuge door - Gas + camping stove - Crockery and cooking utensils galore Donations are welcome (see on site) to thank the Reboulaz family for offering this haven of peace deep in the mountains. The starting point is Nus (a village downstream from Aosta), where you take a departmental road climbing in switchbacks north towards the commune of St Barthélémy. Shortly before reaching Lignan, turn right up to the hamlet of Praz (1756 m), where cars are left at the entrance. A service track continues north to the Champlaisant alpine pasture (1927 m), beyond which you continue almost level along the right bank of the valley. In the past (1978) you had to find your own way, where the torrent splits into several branches, to ford across as best you could to the other bank, where the path continues north. Ignore a left turn (towards the Cuney chapel) to reach the Crottes pasture (2389 m), where the track steepens and finally tackles, in tight switchbacks, the glacial step that closes off the view at the head of the valley. Along the way, don't take the path branching off to the right for the Fenêtre de Tzan pass. You thus reach the shore of Lake Lusenay, near which the refuge stands. Allow 4h/4h30 from Praz. Private (Reboulaz family) Phone (private, please don't overuse): 00.39 01 65 77 00 23 Official site: http://www.montagneinvalledaosta.com/SITO/pagina_598_rif_biv_bivacco_reboulaz/pagina_598.html