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Climb to Col de Porte, either from Saint-Laurent-du-Pont or from Grenoble. At the pass, take the circular leading to the ski resort to park at the edge of the meadow where the slopes are located.
(S/E) Head west, passing a few buildings, and when the road turns right, climb opposite towards La Pinéa on a forest road that is gravel in summer. Follow it level until it ends.
(1) Head straight up opposite, heading south-west. After 500m, the path curves to the left and heads east: a steeper climb leads to the first ridge.
(2) Turn right to follow this flat ridge with a few small ascents and descents, heading southwest. The path curves to the right and then to the left until it reaches the foot of the ridge you want to reach. It makes a flat detour to the left before climbing sharply to the right to reach the ridge at the Plénom crossroads.
(3) Turn right towards the north-east and follow the ridge path, a fairly wide forest ridge with a few ascents and descents, to pass through Montvernet, at the summit of Montfromage, then La Balme de l'Air, and finally the summit of the Charmant Som chairlift.
(4) Go around the chairlift arrival point on the left, climb a little further, and the ridge becomes narrower as it leaves the forest towards the altitude of 1703m. The descent begins on the left and then right side of the ridge until you reach a large meadow, which you must descend straight down the slope to rejoin a grassy ridge (in summer) that runs parallel to the road climbing up on the right near the Oratoire d'Orgeval.
(5) From the Oratory, follow the road platform northwards until you reach the Chalets du Charmant Som.
(6) Pass to the right of the chalets and across the snow-covered mountain pastures, heading east towards the ridge descending from the summit to the south. Once on this ridge, climb northwards, straight up the slope or in zigzags, depending on its shape.
This will take you to what is only a secondary summit. Cross it towards the north-east and, after a slight descent, climb straight up to the summit cross.
(7) Descend back over the secondary summit, down the southern ridge and, as soon as possible, depending on snow conditions, turn right to cross the mountain pastures towards the chalets.
(6) Take the road platform back to the Oratoire d'Orgeval.
(5) From the Oratory, descend onto the road (CD57e) which has a few bends. The third bend can be cut short by taking a path on the left.
(8) At an altitude of 1,465 metres, do not be tempted to follow the ski slopes down towards Les Cottaves, but stay on the road platform that heads east into the forest. The descent continues without difficulty until it reaches the Col de Porte meadow, where the road climbs slightly to return to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Very difficult 
Easy 
