Via Alpina Stage 81: Champex-Lac - Bourg St. Pierre
HARD (3.9/10)Bourg-Saint-Pierre → Vichères
A demanding mountain route — the Via Alpina Stage 81: Champex-Lac - Bourg St. Pierre packs 28.7 km and 991 m of climbing into a 8h 27min day. Running from Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Vichères, the trail spans an elevation range of 899 m to 1,628 m.
The route breaks into 3 segments. The toughest stretch is the 21.4 km from Roc de Cornet to Vichères, climbing 945 m (allow 6h 34min for this section alone). In contrast, the 6.5 km from Crêt de Pro to Roc de Cornet is much gentler — mostly downhill with 406 m of descent.
With 84% of the route below 15% gradient, strong trail runners can maintain a good rhythm for much of the distance. Some pitches hit 50% gradient, so trekking poles are strongly recommended.
Budget roughly 4,728 kcal of energy expenditure and 5.1 L of water. Aim for 60–90 g of carbs per hour to avoid bonking on the longer climbs. No confirmed water sources along the route — carry all the water you need.
Mountain route. Accessible from May to October. Winter conditions possible on exposed sections.
Elevation Profile
Route Map
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📍 Bourg-Saint-Pierre → Crêt de Pro | 0.5 km | +5m | -9m | 6 min | 0.5 |
| ⛰️ Crêt de Pro → Roc de Cornet | 6.5 km | +41m | -406m | 1h 42m | 7.0 |
| ⛰️ Roc de Cornet → Vichères | 21.4 km | +945m | -860m | 6h 34m | 28.4 |
| Total | 28.7 km | +991m | -1,276m | 8h 27m | 28.7 |
Terrain Analysis
Nutrition & Hydration
Estimates based on metabolic equivalent (MET) for hiking with significant elevation gain. Actual needs vary by body weight, fitness, weather, and pack weight.
Pace Estimates
Based on Naismith's Rule adjusted for distance, elevation, and technical difficulty. Click a pace to update split times above.
Current Conditions
Best Season
Mountain route. Accessible from May to October. Winter conditions possible on exposed sections.
Logistics
💧 Water Advisory
No confirmed water sources along this 29 km route. Carry all water needed — plan for 5.1 L minimum.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- Crêt de Pro 284m · km 0.5
- Roc de Cornet 308m · km 7
📍 Nearby Places
- Croix Dessous 149m
- Le Bouvay 149m
- La Tsinte 154m
- Prarreyer 169m
- Le Château 186m
Route Details
- Network
- International Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Bourg-Saint-Pierre
- End
- Vichères
- Operator
- via-alpina.org
- Start Coordinates
- 45.94912, 7.20837
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
- Official Website
- Visit →
Similar Trails
Plan this route
This hard route demands careful planning. Use the TrailSplits planner to set custom waypoints, get turn-by-turn navigation, and export to your GPS.