Saint Bernard Pass

[B Squared]

Hello, I am in need of information on hiking The Francigena from Lausanne over Saint Bernard Pass to Lucca or Sienna. When does the pass typically open? Are accommodations available along the the route day by day?
Thank you,
B Squared

 

[Bradypus]

The pass is usually walkable between mid June and late September. If you are experienced in winter walking at altitude with snowshoes you can attempt it earlier. There is accommodation in the smaller towns and villages along the way. Information on both Gronze and the official VF website.

Via Francigena | Homepage

The Via Francigena is one of the oldest and most popular pilgrim itineraries in Europe. With its 3200km from Canterbury to Rome and onwards to Santa Maria di Leuca in Southern Italy, it crosses 5 different European countries.

www.viefrancigene.org

Vía Francígena | Gronze.com

La Vía Francígena es un camino histórico de peregrinación —declarado Itinerario Cultural Europeo en 1994— que une la catedral de la ciudad inglesa de Canterbury con la plaza de San Pedro de Roma. Su origen es la peregrinación de Sigerico, arzobispo de Canterbury, en el año 990. Actualmente está...

www.gronze.com

 

[andycohn]

I put together a brief "practicalities" guides, which may be useful to you. It includes the excellent resources mentioned by Bradypus, above, as well as other information that should be of help in your planning. Buon cammino!

 

[Bradypus]

Don't underestimate the potential for cold weather even if the route is open. I arrived at the GSB hospice on 16 August and the temperature at 4pm was 5C. When I started walking the next morning there were patches of frost on the ground. In the middle of August. Pack with that possibility in mind.

 

[Jarrad]

I second what everyone else has already said. The elevation gain is ... something else. You gain about 2,600 feet over 7.5 miles. The distance makes it reasonable, just be prepared to walk uphill almost non-stop. Hiking sticks recommended. The views are spectacular -- I do not think it's possible to take a bad picture in the area.

The stage that precedes the walk to the col is interesting, as Martigny has some Roman ruins and good food options. I had one of the best anchovy pizzas ever at the Italian restaurant next to the church. The vineyards on the steep northern slope of the valley are impressive (and I can confirm the wine is quite good). Ancient Roman fingerprints are everywhere up to the pass. I recommend doing a bit of reading on the history of the area and the pass in advance. Good luck!

 

[Jarrad]

I should have noted that if you have trouble with accommodations, you should be able to get to Champex-Lac via taxi fairly easily (I wouldn't recommend the walk, YMMV). Accommodations there are very good, lovely little Swiss village in the mountains, nestled next to a high mountain lake. Be aware that it can be crowded during the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, which is the last week in August.

 

[Bradypus]

The vineyards on the steep northern slope of the valley are impressive (and I can confirm the wine is quite good).

The Swiss vineyards came as a massive surprise to me. I had no idea that the region had such a wine making history. The terraces on the hills between Lausanne and Montreux were extraordinary and I had the pleasure of sampling both red and white wines from the monastery's own vineyards in the refectory of the abbey in St Maurice.

 

[Corned Beef]

Did this last month with my daughter. I used the local tourist office in Orsieres for help re accommodation / bag transfer. This was my second attempt as the pass wasn't open late May when I tried first. Plan for late June / early July.

On the Italian side though temperature in July was 30 deg but they did have free open air jazz concerts.

Saint-Bernard - Pays du Saint-Bernard

Saint-Bernard - The Pays du St-Bernard In a privileged natural Alpine setting that is almost perfectly preserved, the St-Bernard region offers a wide range of sports and cultural activities.

www.saint-bernard.ch

Don't know what your budget is, but the costs in Switzerland can mount up. The Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome mentioned in @andycohn's thread above is a useful starting point.

 

[B Squared]

I put together a brief "practicalities" guides, which may be useful to you. It includes the excellent resources mentioned by Bradypus, above, as well as other information that should be of help in your planning. Buon cammino!

Wow, what a tremendous amount of great information. Appreciate you sharing & will use many of your suggestions.
Thank you!

 

[andycohn]

Wow, what a tremendous amount of great information. Appreciate you sharing & will use many of your suggestions.
Thank you!

One thing to throw into the mix, which @Corned Beef alluded to, is that if you attempt the pass during the summer months, even in June, it's going to be blazing hot on the other side. You'll have some shade through the Val d'Aosta, but the Po Valley will be brutal. Temps consistently in the high 80's - 90's F (30's C), plus no shade and high humidity. Not to mention mosquitos. The only relief you'll get from the heat is in the Apennines, which link the Po Valley region to Tuscany.

Since I'm a wimp from coastal California, I opted for a mid to late September crossing, and by the time I descended into Italy, temps had moderated (though it was still plenty hot in the Po Valley and later in Tuscany). While you may hit some snow, a nearby road offers an alternative route to the pass, and it is plowed through mid-October. Not much car traffic on it, either, so it's a viable route.

But do take an extra layer for the Alps, as @Bradypus says. It was 3 degrees C. when I arrived at the pass on a September 20 several years ago.

 

[kmrice]

It can snow at the GSB pass any time of the year. These photos were taken on August 20, 2020.

 

[Harington]

Hello, I am in need of information on hiking The Francigena from Lausanne over Saint Bernard Pass to Lucca or Sienna. When does the pass typically open? Are accommodations available along the the route day by day?
Thank you,
B Squared

Planning Your Journey – Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome

Planning your Journey The mission of the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome is to inform, advise and support those wishing to undertake the journey from Canterbury to Rome, or any part of it, on foot or by bicycle. All the information contained in this resource booklet comes from our web pages...

pilgrimstorome.org.uk

 

[snale]

I put together a brief "practicalities" guides, which may be useful to you. It includes the excellent resources mentioned by Bradypus, above, as well as other information that should be of help in your planning. Buon cammino!

Thank you, planning to walk next year

 

[kmrice]

We crossed the GSB pass this month, leaving Martigny on August 7, and were very glad we had our poles. The first stretch out of Martigny is not steep but crosses boulder fields where the footing is very tricky. We really needed the stability our poles provided. The climbing from there to the pass is steep and unrelenting; it helped to be able to do some of the work with our arms. And the descent to Aosta is very challenging; very steep with some very tough terrain.We couldn’t have done it without poles. Even our son, a strong hiker who climbs all season in the Alps, took out his poles for the descent. YMMD.

 

[Corned Beef]

I'd like to echo @kmrice as we did it in July. The Swiss side was OK but as mentioned the Italian side was a bit more difficult. They had a lot of rain earlier in the year which washed scree down over some of the higher paths. So poles would have been useful as you can never be certain about the paths.

 

[timr]

Hello @B Squared
This may still be useful.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/gsb-a-guide-to-crossing-the-great-st-bernard-pass.59812/

But goodness.......where do the years go?

 

[andycohn]

Hello @B Squared
This may still be useful.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/gsb-a-guide-to-crossing-the-great-st-bernard-pass.59812/

But goodness.......where do the years go?

It was helpful to me in 2022! Thanks, @timr.