Day 5: Traverse of the Mont Rosset
Chapter 4: Valloire
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Other Itineraries
Day 1: Traverse of the Pointe des Raticières
Day 2: The Aiguille de l’Epaisseur
Day 3: The Col des Aiguilles d’Arves
Day 4: Traverse of the Crête d’Argentière
Chapter 5: The Tour of the Mont Thabor
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Day 1: Traverse of the Col de Fontaine Froide
Day 2: Traverse of the Col de l’Etroit du Vallon and the Crête de Mome
Day 3: The Pic du Lac Blanc
Day 4: Traverse of the Rocher de la Grande Tempête
Day 5: The Roche Château
Day 6: Traverse of the Mont Thabor
Chapter 6: The North Vanoise
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Other Itineraries
Day 1: Le Bois to the Refuge de Plaisance
Day 2: The Dôme des Pichères
Day 3: Traverse of the Pointe de Vallaisonnay
Day 4: The Col de la Grande Casse
Day 5: The Col du Tougne
Chapter 7: The Glaciers de la Vanoise
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Day 1: Les Prioux to the Refuge de la Valette
Day 2: Traverse of the Dôme de Chasseforêt
Day 3: Traverse of the Col du Moine
Day 4: Traverse of the Pointe de l’Observatoire
Day 5: The Dôme de Polset
Chapter 8: Val d’Isère
Introduction to the Area
Day 1: Val d’Isère to the Refuge de Prariond
Day 2: The Pointe de la Galise
Day 3: The Grande Aiguille Rousse
Alternatives
Day 1: Val d’Isère to the Refuge du Fond des Fours
Day 2: Traverse of the Pointe de Méan Martin
Day 3: Traverse of the Pointe de la Sana
Alternatives
Chapter 9: The Ambin Valley
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Other Itineraries
Day 1: The Le Suffet to the Refuge d’Ambin
Day 2: The Mont d’Ambin
Day 3: The Pointe Sommeiller
Day 4: The Pointe Ferrand
Day 5: Traverse of the Petit Vallon
Chapter 10: Avérole
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Other Itineraries
Day 1: Bessans to the Refuge d’Avérole
Day 2: The Col de la Bessanèse
Day 3: The Ouille d’Arbéron
Day 4: Traverse of the Albaron
Chapter 11: Carro/Evettes
Introduction to the Area
Alternatives
Other Itineraries
Day 1: Ecot to the Refuge du Carro
Day 2: The Levanna Occidentale
Day 3: The Grande Aiguille Rousse
Day 4: The Carro–Evettes Traverse
Day 5: The Petite Ciamarella
Day 6: The Pointe Francesetti
Chapter 12: Ski Mountaineering
Introduction to the Area
The Aiguille des Glaciers
The Aiguille de la Grande Sassière
The Mont Pourri
The Grande Casse
Appendix 1: Glossary
Appendix 2: Mountain Hut List
Appendix 3: Tourist Information Offices
On the Glacier de Gébroulaz, below the Dôme de Polset on Day 5 of the Glaciers de la Vanoise tour
INTRODUCTION
There is no denying that the mountains of Savoie are spectacularly beautiful. The proud pyramids of the Aiguilles d’Arves, the austere north-face of the Grande Casse and the sparkling ‘Dômes’ of the Vanoise Glaciers are as fine examples of mountain architecture as can be found anywhere. But there is more to the area than a collection of points of outstanding natural beauty. The geographical diversity of the region is a reflection of the different facets of Savoie’s complex personality: from the savageness of the Belledonne to the gentleness of the Beaufortain, from the ostentation of the Aiguille d’Arves to the aloofness of the Haute Maurienne. The tours described in this guide reflect the variety of landscape and skiing that makes ski touring in Savoie so special. The area is however best known to skiers for the Olympic ski-resorts of Tignes, Val d’Isère, Les Arcs, La Plagne and The Three Valleys, which lie on the northern edge of the Vanoise National Park.
The Vanoise National Park, situated in the département of Savoie, was the first national park to be created in France. As the park has been protected from the encroachment of the ski-resorts, it has been preserved as one of the great ski-touring areas of the French Alps.
The richness of the area for ski touring also lies in Savoie’s lesser-known massifs, such as the Lauzière, the Belledonne, the Beaufortain and the Haute Maurienne, which surround the Vanoise. This guide provides an introduction to all the different parts of this region and corresponds, more or less, to the French département of Savoie (with minor incursions into the neighbouring départements of Isère and Les Hautes Alpes) giving an overview of the wonderful and varied ski touring to be had here.
Vanoise Ski Touring is aimed at both experienced