Tour Sallière

Overview

Second highest mountain of the Swiss Faucigny after Haute Cime of the Dents du Midi, the Tour Sallière is a huge pyramid : the N ridge stands between the valley of Susanfe in the W and Salanfe in the E. The Salanfe face, called Grand Revers is a 1300 m high wall. The ice-covered W ridge spreads to the Mont Ruan and the french border. In the south, you find two lonely valleys : Barberine and Emaney. The normal route from Susanfe Hut is a pleasure climb of moderate difficulty (PD) and you are quite sure to be alone. Other summits of the Tour Sallière Massif : - L'Eglise (the Church) 3077 m near the Susanfe Collar - The Dome 3138 m snowy summit in the N of the Tower. Between Tower and Dome : Dome Collar 3026 m.

Getting There

Start points are : - Champéry. Access over Susanfe Hut - Salvan. Access over Salanfe Hut - Finhaut. Access over Emosson Dam Nearest airport : Geneva Cointrin Nearest stations : - Champéry TGV (high speed train) to Aigle, just a few kilometers from Champéry, throughout the winter season. The rest of the year, the TGV stops in Lausanne. From Aigle or from Lausanne, the connection to Champéry leaves every hour. - Salvan Station CFF at Martigny:027 / 722 21 21or station CFF at Vernayaz: 027 / 764 14 28 or Station SNCF Chamonix take then the Mont-Blanc Express, Martigny CFF - Vernayaz - Salvan - or Chamonix - Vallorcine - Finhaut - Salvan (see section Mont-Blanc express) - Finhaut Station CFF at Martigny:027 / 722 21 21or station CFF at Vernayaz: 027 / 764 14 28 or Station SNCF Chamonix take then the Mont-Blanc Express, Martigny CFF - Vernayaz - Salvan - Finhaut - or Chamonix - Vallorcine - Finhaut (see section Mont-Blanc express) By car : - To Champéry Highway Montreux - Martigny exit Saint Triphon to Monthey, Val d'Illiez, Champéry - To Salvan Highway Montreux - Martigny exit Martigny direction Salvan - Les Marecottes over Pont du Gueuroz. - To Finhaut From Switzerland : Martigny - Col de la Forclaz - Finhaut From France : N 506 from Chamonix - Vallorcine - Le Chatelard - Finhaut

Red Tape

No red tape

When To Climb

From july to september Tour Sallière can be climbed with skis

Routes Overview

1) From Emosson : S face PD Easiest route but monotonous. Keyser Soze wrote about this route (Sept 14, 2004 06:41 AM) : If you want to visit this beautiful summit in one day, the S-face route is useful. It makes sense to use a mountain bike, with which you can go almost to the end of Lac d'Emosson. The tiny glaciers are harmless, the short ridge which leads to the summit has two fixed ropes. It is easiest to stay a little below the ridge, on the Emosson side. 2) NW ridge PD+ 3) NW face PD 4) Emaney ridge D

Huts

1) Susanfe Hut (CAS Yverdon) Contacts & Reservations from juto to october : Cabane de Susanfe +41 (0)24 479 16 46 from october to may when the hut is closed : Roger Gillabert +41 (0)24 479 22 72 Person in charge : Rolland Jaquier +41 (0)24 426 30 39 susanfe@cas-yverdon.ch Access : Champéry Grand Paradis - Bonavau - le Pas d'Encel 3h30 diff T3 Barme Sous la Dent - Bonavau - Pas d'Encel 3h30 diff T3 Salvan Van d'en Haut - Lac de Salanfe - Col de Susanfe 6h 4h30 de Van d'en Haut diff T3 Marécottes Emaney - Col d'Emaney - Lac de Salanfe - Col de Susanfe 8h diff T3 La Vogealle France Col de Sagerou - Col des Ottans diff T4 Access in winter (for experienced mountaineerers only) Champéry Grand Paradis - Barme - Col de Comba Mornay 5h TD / ESA Salvan Van d'en Haut - Lac de Salanfe - Col de Susanfe 5h AD / BS Marécottes Col de la Golette - Lac de Salanfe - Col de Susanfe 4h30 AD / BS 2) Salanfe Hut (private) Fabienne et Nicolas Marclay Case postale - CH-1922 Salanfe/Salvan Tél. **41 (0)27 761 14 38 - Hors saison : **41 (0)24 485 36 18 E-mail : auberge@salanfe.ch Salanfe is located in the canton du Valais in Switzerland, between the valleys of Trient and Illiez. The shortest way to get to Salanfe : From Van d'en Haut, a hamlet situated just above the village of Salvan – Les Marécottes. 120 beds in dormitories There are approximately 9 bunk beds (18 places) in each dorm. Woolen blankets and pillows are available. 21 beds in comfortable bedrooms The three double rooms and the five three-bed rooms have a balcony over looking the lake. These rooms are equipped with duvets, towels and running water. Toilets are on the floor. 3) Barrage d'Emosson restaurant Solange Gay-Crosier and Frank Lugon-Moulin CH-1925 Finhaut 1970 m

Camping

Camping at col de la Forclaz - see at the hotel du col - tel.027/722.26.88 - e-mail : colforclazhotel@bluewin.ch Camping at Trient : near le Peuty

Salanfe Dam

Structural Type: Gravity dam Location: Saint-Maurice, Valais, Switzerland Contains: Salanfe River Built: 1952 Dimensions & Quantities: dam volume 230 000 m3 length of crown 616 m

The Mt-Blanc Express line

A connection which has existed for almost a century offers the amateurs of strong sensations many possibilities Crossing sometimes vertiginous but always somptuous pieces of scenery, the Mont-Blanc Express line climbs the slope defiently and after 2480 meters at 200 ‰, it reaches Salvan, the village where Marconi's tests on wireless telegraph were crowned with succes. Some minutes later, the train arrives in Les Marécottes, more particularly known for its alpine zoo where bears, wolves, greyhounds and other wild species live together in a 35000 m2 space. In the wintertime, skiers and snowboarders head to La Creusaz and practise their favourite sport. Before saluting the Trétien as we go along, we can also admire the beautiful gorges du Triège. Finhaut turns up behind a bend in the way. Ancient houses reminds us the fact that the resort knew some glorious hours at the beginning of the century. Nowadays, it gladly welcomes families, and hikers have a magnificent network of walks at their disposal. In Le Châtelard VS, the steepest funicular in the world (over 87%) is awaiting the most intrepid travellers. In less than 12 minutes, it leads them from 1357 to1821 meters of altitude. Then a little panoramic train takes them to the foot of the dam of Emosson, hugging breathtaking chasms. Finally, a mini-funicular allows them to reach the col de la Cueulaz from where they can enjoy of a view that cannot be obstructed of the Mont-Blanc. Once on the other side or the frontierline, the composition heads to Chamonix, a high place for worldwide mountaineering. The hiking possibilities are numerous. Were it the ice sea, or the Montenvers or the Aiguille du Midi railway lines, the tourist is sure to spend privileged moments in the valleys of the Trient and of the Arve.

Images

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