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4997 Hits
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72.08% Score
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2 Votes
Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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45.42260°N / 6.76890°E |
Route Type:
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Glacier Climb |
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Time Required:
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One to two days |
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Difficulty:
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PD - |
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Approach
Start point is Pralognan (access : see main page)
Route Description
First day : from Pralognan les Fontanettes, walk along the teleski and follow the GR 55 to the cabane des Barmettes (2010 m). Cross the Glière (torrent). You arrive at the chalets de la Glière. In short bends you climb to the Pont de Chanton and to the "Lac des Vaches" (icy swamp in early summer, ford on rock plates). You pass by the left the Aiguille de la Vanoise (2796 m) and you arrive to the Refuge du Col de la Vanoise (Refuge Felix Faure, 2517 m).
Second day : From the hut, climb slightly in the direction of the summit of the Grande Casse to a stonefield which leads to the glacier des Grands Couloirs. Climb on the tong at right shore (1 h). Go up along the icetong and turn off towards the left and cross many crevasses (prudence). Climb then in the middle of the glacier and get to the right bank. Over these slopes you arrive to the col des grands couloirs. Climb direction south to the summit ridge. The principal summit of the Grande Casse is near behind. Almost the whole French Alps are visible from the summit !
Essential Gear
Iceaxe, crampons, rope
Claude Mauguier - May 18, 2005 11:11 am - Hasn't voted
Route CommentThis great nice but rather steep trip should best be undertaken quite early in the season, with a pretty fair amount of snow.
AND an early start in the morning. Glacier retreat and heat are treacherously inducing this route to receive sometimes a pretty fair amount of stones coming from overwhelming ridges.