Col d'Annibal is the euphonious name of a pass on the flank of Mont VĂ©lan on the Great St. Bernard. According to legend, this is where Hannibal crossed the Alps with his hordes and army of elephants to invade the Roman Empire and bring about its end. The fact that modern science considers this to be impossible and relegates it to the realm of fable does not detract from the beauty of the story. And certainly not the beauty of the tour.
But before the beauty comes the suffering. Not just the ascent, no, passionate freeriders are already overcome with melancholy at the starting point. In the parking lot in Bourg St. Bernard, you stand in front of the remains of the Telecabin Super St. Bernard, a ski gondola that opened up unique terrain between Pointe de Barasson and Pointes le Molenne and was a real freeride gem. Unfortunately, the Super St. Bernard ski area with its two lifts was closed in 2010 for economic reasons.
And unfortunately this also has consequences for the tour. Not only is the bus transfer back now severely restricted (see below), but there is also no option to save yourself the first 300 meters of altitude using the platter lift. So there is nothing left to do but put on your skins or snowshoes at the starting point and set off.
From the parking lot of the former mountain railroad, the trail first climbs leisurely uphill through Les Darreys in an easterly direction and then splits up considerably from 2500 m above sea level. Long hairpin bends take you over the moraine of the virtually non-existent Glacier de Prox towards point 2816 and from here over the former glacier bed to the Col d'Annibal at point 2992. A fantastic panorama opens up at the top of the pass. The Grand Jorasses and Mont Blanc tower majestically to the west, the Aosta Valley opens up to the south and the massive wall of Mont VĂ©lan blocks every view to the west. But it too is worth seeing and the Hannibal couloir in it entices you to come back to climb Mt. VĂ©lan from here and enjoy this alpine skiing experience.
However, the tour into the Aosta Valley continues at a more leisurely pace. The large basin on the south side of the Col d'Annibal into the Vallon de Moline invites you to take wide, fat turns and, in the continuation to Moline (point 2415), to cruise comfortably. At the exit of the valley floor at Moline Vielle, you should keep to the right and not follow the stream bed too closely before turning into the south-west slope towards Arvus at point 2297. Now follow the Vallon de Menovy, initially on gentle slopes on the east side of the valley, before finally turning into the streambed below point 1809 and following it to the village of Etroubles. Since the Super St. Bernard ski area has ceased operations, shuttle buses no longer seem to run regularly, so the only alternative, according to our information, is the Postbus, which runs once a day, or a cab. Or you can stay in the Aosta Valley. Here in French-speaking Italy, they know a lot about hospitality and cuisine. And there are also a few ski areas with freeride potential.
Information
Difficulty (5-level scale): ***(*)
Special dangers: none
Average steepness / maximum steepness: 18°/ 37°
Exposure: NW-W-SW-S
Altitude difference start, pass and finish: 1916 m | 2992 m | 1337 m
Altitude metres uphill and downhill: 1075 m | 1655 m
Duration: 5-6 hours
Best time of year: December - March
How to get there: From Martigny via Orsières up to the Great St. Bernard. Bernhard. There is also a post bus from Martigny.
Topographical maps: Swiss Map 25 sheet 1365 "Gd St-Bernard"
Other recommendations: Clarify return transfer in advance
