Via Alpina Stage 78: Col du Demècre - Vernayaz
HARD (3.9/10)From Dorénaz
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Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, descents and decisive places in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Dorénaz
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
15.2 km remaining
+2232 m remaining
Route note
1.5 km
Tête des Crêtes
Peak
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 43 min in
13.7 km remaining
+2223 m remaining
Climb
2.7 km
675 m climb
3.6 km at 18.7% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 1h 19m in
12.4 km remaining
+2211 m remaining
Descent
6.4 km
69 m descent
0.7 km at 9.6% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 3h 05m in
8.8 km remaining
+1485 m remaining
Climb
7.1 km
1213 m climb
5.7 km at 21.4% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 3h 26m in
8.1 km remaining
+1485 m remaining
Descent
14.7 km
90 m descent
0.5 km at 18.0% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 7h 04m in
500 m remaining
+1 m remaining
Finish
15.2 km
Route finish
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 7h 19m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Via Alpina Stage 78: Col du Demècre - Vernayaz is a 15.2 km point-to-point hard hiking route in Switzerland. The route covers 2,232m of ascent and 338m of descent, with elevations ranging from 448m to 2,447m. Allow approximately 7h 18m for the full route.
The route is divided into 6 segments. The toughest stretch is the 11.0 km from Tête des Crêtes to Sex Carro, climbing 1,813m.
About 64% of the trail is runnable, but the remaining steep sections will push most people into power-hiking mode. The steepest pitches reach 60% gradient.
Budget roughly 5,358 kcal of energy expenditure and 4.4 L of water.
Mountain route up to 2448m. Best June–October; snow possible into June.
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
📍 Dorénaz → Tête des Crêtes | 1.5 km | +7m | -8m | 19 min | 1.5 |
⛰️ Tête des Crêtes → Sex Carro | 11.0 km | +1813m | -197m | 5h 23m | 12.5 |
⛰️ Sex Carro → Portail de Fully | 1.1 km | +155m | -5m | 28 min | 13.6 |
⛰️ Portail de Fully → Mont Bron | 1.6 km | +140m | -25m | 34 min | 15.2 |
⛰️ Mont Bron → Cabane du Demècre | 1.4 km | +117m | -103m | 33 min | 16.6 |
🏠 Cabane du Demècre → End | 0.0 km | +0m | -0m | 0 min | 16.6 |
| Total | 15.2 km | +2,232m | -338m | 7h 18m | 15.2 |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
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Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Tree cover and UV
🌤️ Mixed. Sections above the treeline are open to the sky; lower sections have some canopy. Carry sun protection for the open parts.
Canopy is inferred from elevation against a 2000 m Alpine treeline and from gradient below it, not from observed tree data — treat it as an estimate. It is a different question from the terrain shade above, which is about whether a mountain is between you and the sun at a given time.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Via Alpina Stage 78: Col du Demècre - Vernayaz is usually best from July to September. Snow is likely at the high point (2448 m) in December to June.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (448 m) and high point (2,448 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (448 m) and the highest point (2,448 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor | Poor |
| High point, day / night | -3°/-9° | -3°/-10° | -1°/-8° | 3°/-5° | 7°/0° | 11°/4° | 13°/5° | 13°/6° | 9°/3° | 5°/0° | 1°/-4° | -1°/-7° |
| Low point, day / night | 8°/-1° | 9°/-1° | 13°/2° | 16°/6° | 21°/11° | 25°/14° | 26°/15° | 26°/15° | 21°/12° | 17°/9° | 12°/4° | 9°/1° |
| Rain, mm | 144 | 124 | 116 | 109 | 142 | 114 | 106 | 109 | 99 | 125 | 146 | 163 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | – | – | Possible | Possible | Likely |
| Daylight | 9 h | 10 h 19 | 11 h 49 | 13 h 30 | 14 h 56 | 15 h 45 | 15 h 27 | 14 h 13 | 12 h 38 | 11 h 01 | 9 h 30 | 8 h 39 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. These values describe the whole trail's lowest and highest points. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Current snow conditions
Insufficient evidence
Enable “Current snow map” in the route map’s Map layers to see the surrounding snow evidence. Current conditions do not describe a future departure date.
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 15.2 km, 2232m ascent, max altitude 2447.9m, ~7h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestWater source information is incomplete; plan supplies before departure
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 5358 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 2000m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🧥 Windbreaker / shell jacketSummit at 2447.9m — wind chill
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical for preventing hypothermia if you stop moving
- 🕶️ Sunglasses (cat 3+)Snow & rock glare at altitude
- 🧤 Warm mid-layer (fleece)Temps drop ~6°C per 1000m
- 🔦 Headlamp7h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🥢 Trekking poles42% steep terrain, 2232m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Dorénaz to the finish (15.2 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- Tête des Crêtes km 1.5 · 1.7 km off trail
- Sex Carro km 12.5 · 1.9 km off trail
📍 Nearby Places
- Gorges du Trient km 1.5 · 1.5 km off trail
- Le Bras km 4.1 · 1.7 km off trail
- Marecot km 1.5 · 1.9 km off trail
- Grands Terreaux km 2.3 · 2.2 km off trail
- Les Follatères km 10 · 1.4 km off trail
Route Details
- Network
- International Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Dorénaz
- Start Coordinates
- 46.14456, 7.04497
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
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Route resources
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