Lago Perrin Lago Perrin
Introduction
This interesting circle trip reaches one of the most beautiful alpine lakes and allow to visit two alpine valleys (The Cuneaz and Mascognaz ones) as well as the two same name villages with their typical Walser houses.
Description
From the Parish Church of Champoluc a marked path (nr.13) goes up (a little steep!!) in the splendid wood until it arrives at the resort of Frantze, passing then through the houses of Vieux Crest (1973 m). A little upwards, after leabing on the left the road leading to the mountain station of the Crest cable railway coming from Champoluc, you proceed on a little road marked with nr. 1 (Aosta Valley highway) narrowing then to a normal path among meadows and entering the Cuneaz valley having in front the shapes of Monte Sarezza and Testa Grigia. Soon you arrive at the typical village of Cuneaz.The path advances amongst the old and charming “rascards” e go across ll this marvellous village. Then, coming out of Cuneaz it continues in the valley heading east in direction of its end towards Pinter Col. Walking among meadows and little woods you cross a beautiful waterfall on a little wooden bridge immediately after which the roads reaches a junction. Abandoning the trace on the left now you proceed right (Beware: indicators are practically hidden!) following the number 13. This path drives to a plateau by designing a large circle to the right. Here we are at the Alpe Pian Long (2176 m). Here the environment is becoming more and more alpine between blocks and sparse trees with the ground populated by pretty marmots abd with the view getting more and more wide in direction of Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. After gaining the little plateau of Pian Gomb and after having crossed it, taking left direction, you walk a last slope that is leading to the little col which dominates the stretch of Lake Perrin (2635 m).
This lake, deeply blue and emerald green coloured, is wonderfully mounted in the middle of rocky mountainsand and gives a big sense of the silence and of restful alpine peace.
After a stop to admire once again the nice landscape of the head of the Ayas Valley and the slim pyramid of the Matterhorn, it is necessary to surround the lake on its right shore with a passage equipped witth a fixed rope, finding at the other end of it the signals (14A) near the effluent of the lake itself. Thus, you have the overlook of the Mascognaz valley which sight, in direction of Palasinaz lakes and Corno Vitello is beautiful. The descent starts from here on a very well traced path,staying high at first and then going along a winding and steep road, passing at right of a curious rocky pinnacle and then bending down between blocks and clods (many marmotts here too!) pointing to a great mountain pasture. Here you find again the wide country road which leads to the bottom of the valley. Following it on the right and coming back to the woods nearby the ruinous torrent, it continues to the houses o Mascognaz (1827 m), another charming Walser village where it is possible to admire good examples of spontaneous architecture. Turning the back on the village the path nr.14 makes its way among meadows first and then again in a fresh and thick wood. When it reaches a little chapel you stay on right (the left trace goes in direction of Periasc) going deeply downhills to Champoluc: you reach the village nearby the local Turist Office.
