Monte Vin Vert

Start in Savoulx in Val di Susa, where the long climb of 1,500 meters in elevation gain begins. Initially steep, it becomes gentler when you reach the military road connecting Fort Foens to Pramand, until you reach the junction for Col Basset/Jafferau at an elevation of 2317 meters, where it begins to climb steeply again until you reach Col Basset (2610 meters).

From Col Basset leave the wide dirt road heading to Jafferau and take a track on the west side of Vin Vert, whose summit does not seem to be very far away. Do not take the trail that climbs in direttissima but rather the one on the left that cuts diagonally across the mountainside.

The little path is for a few sections cyclable, but you still proceed easily with the bike at your side even on the steepest sections. After a few minutes you finally reach Colletto Vin Vert at an altitude of 2690 meters and the north ridge, which must be followed faithfully until you reach the summit of Mount Vin Vert (2713 meters) with a last section that is even rideable. The views are spectacular.

We thus begin the descent. We retrace the final ridge section to the col from which a well-marked path starts, which with a long and easy traverse reaches the below and clearly visible ruins of the Vin Vert Barracks at an altitude of 2544 meters. Continue on trail to the Seguret Barracks, near the exit of the Saracen Tunnel.

Now we have to climb a short section on a dirt road until we reach near a hairpin bend the beginning of the trail, with a flowing and fun part. At an elevation of 2068 meters we take path N21 to our right (the detour is not very well marked also because we get there after a very fast section). Flowing parts alternate with short technical sections. We arrive at the hamlet of Goudissard, in a state of complete abandonment.

Once past the hamlet, the trail continues until it reaches the abandoned site of the Chalk Quarries, where explanatory panels tell the story of this quarry, of which the ruins of the cable car station remain. Having passed a few stepped sections, we continue until we cross a dirt road that we ignore to continue on the path that now runs alongside a beautiful "bisse" for collecting water, at times built with hollowed larch logs: a grandiose work that unfortunately is in a poor state of maintenance in some places. The trail leads us directly to the gates of Savoulx: a long and enjoyable descent that amply repays the exertions suffered during the ascent.