Mountain refuge Hameau de Vercoche

Reading of the land in Vercar

At the head of the vallone di Vercar, above Champorcher and within the Aosta Valley , this free shelter appears on a point that already forces to think the day in mountain key. The 1,886 meters do not place it on extreme ground, but it does place it in a strip where the change of orientation of the valley, the meteorology and the state of the path can greatly alter the progression. In this sector it is appropriate to read the map well and not to have only the distance: an apparently short access can be made slower if the itinerary turns to more exposed slopes or enters more open terrain.

Hameau de Vercar has an interest above all as a step reference and as a simple basis for moving to higher levels of the environment. The near presence of summits like Mont Glacier or Cima Rousse helps to understand its role: not so much as the end of the walk, but as a support to divide an approach, prepare an ascension or link travel paths. In the area they pass routes of entity such as the GTA and several local paths to hills and lakes, so it can fit in long days where the important decision is not only to arrive, but from which valley to enter and to which side to continue the next day.

Logistics calls for some autonomy. There is a source located about 1.3 km, reasonable but not immediate distance, so it is not appropriate to take the water into account in the shelter itself or leave that point for the last minute. It is also prudent to anticipate rapid changes in time and careful navigation if different strands are linked, especially in crosses or side changes. For those who plan with margin, it works better as a reorganisation point on the road than as an improvised stop.