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Col du petit St-Bernard snowkite spot
France · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Overview
Spots located on a mountain pass are always excellent!
The Col du Petit St-Bernard spot is no exception to the rule, situated at nearly 2200m altitude between Italy (Aosta Valley) and France, the pass benefits from exceptional snow and wind conditions. It's very often the right choice when it doesn't work elsewhere. The spot is very large, with a flat section that's quite reassuring, and on each side there are slopes that you can climb with your kite depending on your level and avalanche conditions
Spot forecast for Col du petit St-Bernard
Sunrise 07:23 · Sunset 17:08
Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo
Col du petit St-Bernard: when to go?
Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)
268h
in May · 24.5 rideable days
The season runs from November to June, peaking in May: 19 rideable days a month and 268 hours of usable wind, at 3 °C. The low point is August, at 0 days.
Rideable days per month
Wind strength when it is rideable
When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 85% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at -2 °C. The wettest month is January, with 267 mm. Snow depth peaks in March, at 177 cm.
Monthly averages: Col du petit St-Bernard
| Month | Rideable days | Usable wind | Temperature | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.5 | 211 h | -2 °C | 267 mm |
| February | 19.5 | 188 h | -1 °C | 107 mm |
| March | 16.0 | 145 h | 0 °C | 88 mm |
| April | 19.5 | 206 h | 4 °C | 107 mm |
| May | 24.5 | 268 h | 7 °C | 142 mm |
| June | 17.5 | 227 h | 14 °C | 141 mm |
| July | 1.0 | 5 h | 15 °C | 128 mm |
| August | 0.0 | 0 h | 17 °C | 78 mm |
| September | 1.5 | 10 h | 9 °C | 196 mm |
| October | 9.0 | 75 h | 6 °C | 256 mm |
| November | 17.5 | 148 h | 1 °C | 180 mm |
| December | 16.0 | 122 h | -2 °C | 126 mm |
Photo gallery of Col du petit St-Bernard
Technical details of Col du petit St-Bernard spot
The spot works with winds from NNE, NE, ENE, SSW, SW.
Depending on conditions: N, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, WSW.
Spot functioning
During the season:
Access to the spot is via La Thuile resort on the Italian side or via La Rosière resort on the French side.
Access via La Thuile (Italy), there is a "snowkite" lift pass for €18 that allows you to reach the spot. It gives access to a series of lifts that take you to the spot, here's the route:
- "Les Suches" gondola
- "Chaz Dura Express" chairlift
- Trail 7 to the pass
Return:
- Trail 7 back to the resort
- OR "Piccolo San Bernardo Express" chairlift then return via the slopes toward "La Thuile".
Access via La Rosière (France), take a day pass "Espace San Bernardo" for €41.50 (With FFVL license). It gives access to a series of lifts that allow you to go to the spot and return at the end of the day, here's the route (allow at least 45min):
- "Roches Noires" chairlift
- "Fort" chairlift
- "Bellecombe 1" drag lift
- Trail 26 to the pass
Return:
- "Piccolo San Bernardo Express" chairlift
- "Chardonnet" chairlift
- "Plan du Repos" chairlift
- Return to the resort via the slopes
I can only recommend the superb video by friend Pascal Boulgakow: Guide to the Petit St-Bernard spot - French access. Everything is very well detailed there.
Off-season:
Access is via the Col du Petit Saint Bernard road. Depending on snow conditions, you'll also need to count on skins to go all the way (almost every time).
From La Thuile, at the very beginning or end of the season, you can drive up to Pont Serrand (1602m, 600m elevation gain remaining) or up to la Cretaz (1861m, 400m elevation gain remaining). The area has no particular dangers.
From La Rosière, at the very beginning or end of the season, you can drive up to the Zittieux ridge (1900m, 250m elevation gain remaining, 6km), or to Pont de la Marquise (2072m, 100m elevation gain remaining, 2km, or kite if Southwest wind for the more experienced). The area is very avalanche-prone, the road is overlooked by a 2km long rocky ridge.
Spot opening date
- Spot opening date
- Open all year round
- Spot type
- Resort (Ski lift access)
- Altitude
- 2,188 m
Parking
La Thuile ski resort:
Ski resort parking. The later you arrive, the further away you'll be parked! Paid parking, about €5/day.
La Rosière ski resort:
Ski resort parking. Fills up quickly, paid parking.
Wind specificities
Pass oriented Northeast / Southwest. There you'll experience the main wind systems of the Alps. Normally if there's a wind forecast, it will enter the pass from one direction or the other.
Hazards
You are in a mountain area, the snowkite spot is in an unsecured zone. The flat part is safe, but the slopes quickly become quite steep. Therefore, the trio of Avalanche Transceiver, Shovel, and Probe is mandatory (for access to Lancebranlette, access to Lac Sans Fond, etc.).
On the "slope" side of the pass, there are high-voltage lines, so don't wander around there.
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Col du Pt St Bernard1.2 kmsource Pioupiou
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