Saille tour
From the moment you reach the summit via the Jorasse chairlift, a dirt track guides you effortlessly to the Bougnonne stables. This mountain pasture, owned by Leytron, was managed independently until 1963. Today, it is the second most important alpine pasture after Odonne. The gently sloping route takes you to the banks of the Salentse, an inescapable river which, by turns discreet and impetuous, shapes the life of Leytron and Ovronnaz.
The old stables of Saille can be seen below, then the path continues to climb towards the Rambert hut, as far as the Pierre à Vatserou. Sitting on this imposing stone, the chief shepherd once kept watch over his flock.
Leaving this path, you take a magnificent path along the hillside, winding between rocky bars and scree at the foot of the Pointe d'Aufalle ridge. Larches, alders, bilberries and wooded pastures then guide you towards Larzay and Chavanne Neuve, where an old coach house once stood on the Bougnonne mountain pasture. Your tour ends at the top of the Jorasse chairlift.
Access to the Tour :
Jorasse chairlift
Return journey:
Bus : Derborence - Sion / Train : Sion - Riddes or bus : Sion - Leytron / Bus : Riddes - Ovronnaz
Catering: Jorasse mountain restaurant - Rambert hut - Dorbon gîte - Refuge du Lac
Features
Length
16 km
Difficulty
Medium / T2-T3
Duration
6h (no break)
Height difference
+979 m / -1454 m
Minimum altitude
1456 m
Maximum altitude
2584 m
Starting point
Jorasse arrival of the chairlift
Point of arrival
Lac de Derborence hut
Period
Depending on snow conditions and the opening of the Derborence road
Did you know ?
Charles Ferdinand Ramuz's novel "Derborence", published in 1934, tells the story of a shepherd who is buried when a cliff collapses on the Valais side of the Diablerets massif on 23 September 1714. These famous rockfalls, like the one in 1749, caused extensive damage.
In 1958, the Sion - Derborence postal line was officially opened. The daily journey was an adventure: it left Sion at 9.30am, but it was impossible to predict the time of arrival! The driver was equipped with a pick and sledgehammer to deal with any rocks that fell during the night...
