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
Getting there
Le point de départ classique est le parking de Porliod (1879 m), accessible en voiture depuis Nus via Lignan puis la route communale. Le sentier traverse ensuite les alpages de Champcombre, Vayoux, Ollière et Praterier avant de rejoindre le sentier vers Les Crottes, le lac de Luseney puis le bivouac (compter environ 3h30 depuis Porliod, ou 1h30 depuis Praterier). D'autres accès existent depuis le refuge de Cuney (environ 2h45, itinéraire Alta Via 1) ou depuis le refuge Barmasse via la Finestra di Tzan (environ 4h30).
The setting
Le bivouac occupe un cirque suspendu spectaculaire, au pied de la Becca di Luseney et au bord du lac homonyme. La montée traverse des hameaux d'alpage, des mélézins et des alpages encore exploités avant que le paysage ne s'ouvre sur des pierriers et des replats perchés autour du lac de Luseney, offrant par temps calme un reflet de la Becca di Luseney dans l'eau.
A bit of history
Bivouac construit en 1993 en mémoire de Luca Reboulaz, né le 13 juillet 1961 à Aoste et ayant grandi à Lignan (vallée de Saint-Barthélemy, commune de Nus). Moniteur de ski de fond dès 1983, diplômé en informatique, il travaillait chez Olivetti à Ivrée. Mort en juillet 1987 sur la Becca de Luseney, le sommet qui domine le lac et le bivouac.
A word from the warden
Bivouac non gardé (structure en pierre, toit en bois à poutres apparentes), 24 places avec coussins et couvertures.
