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Warning:
?️ Information on how to reach the starting point, as well as details regarding ?♀️ difficulty levels, ? alternative routes and ⚠️ safety precautions, is summarised in the sections ‘Practical Information ’ and ‘During the hike’. Any challenging hike requires preparation, and this hike is no exception.
Signposting:
This walk is mainly off-trail but follows marked paths near the start and finish points:
Park at the Glandon car park.
Yellow markings
(S/R) From the car park, take the almost level path heading west-north-west towards Lac de la Croix. On a flat stretch, a signpost indicates the direction of Lac de la Combe.
No signposting
(1) Turn left (south-west) towards the lake. The path crosses the mountain pastures on the slopes of the Carrelet before joining another path at Mollard du Gai.
(2) Continue westwards, keeping close to the ridge of the grassy slope, then follow the path as it winds in wide loops through the stubble towards the lake. The lake comes into view at the very last moment, near a shepherd’s hut.
Cairn-marked path
(3) After admiring Lac de la Combe, set off again north-east, below the shepherd’s hut, to reach, via gentle grassy slopes, a ridge running parallel to the Petites Aiguilles (do not go as far as the moraine at the bottom of the valley, which is less convenient for the ascent).
This ridge, initially grassy and then consisting of large boulders, runs north-west towards the foot of the Col de la Combe (this photo of the grassy hump helps with orientation). Climb (north-west) up the ridge, keeping closer to the eastern flank to avoid the two rocky outcrops, following the few cairns marking the route.
Then leave the shoulder to reach the foot of the pass, traversing upwards over steeper and less pleasant scree, still heading north-west.
The route leading to the pass itself is only visible at the very last moment (do not confuse it with the Grand Coup de Sabre du Piniollet, further to the east) as it is hidden by the Aiguille Jérome Gaillard: the pass has two ascending couloirs, separated by a small, unnamed rocky outcrop; the right-hand couloir (on the orographic left) is not used.
Get kitted out at the top of the scree marking the base of the left-hand route: stow your poles in your rucksack and put on your helmet. Then climb up the left-hand route, belaying yourself if necessary on the bolts and quickdraws that equip the route: a few very short sections are grade 3 and require the use of your hands.
No path
(4) At the pass, head north-west to cross the large cirque beneath the Aiguille d’Olle, which is littered with large, often unstable boulders (difficult terrain, especially in the presence of ice or snow). This leads to the steep rocky shoulder forming a continuation of the north-east ridge of the Aiguille d’Olle. A steep, straight couloir descends due north along the eastern flank of this shoulder; it is possible to descend this straight couloir (due north), using an ice axe and crampons if there is snow, and thus reach the bottom of the valley leading from the Argentière Glacier. Another option is to take the zigzagging slopes slightly to the east of the straight couloir.
The location photo and the one of the straight couloir show these two routes; the GPS track for this hike follows the zigzagging slopes.
(5) From the bottom of the valley, head up the north-facing slope, first over moraine scree and then across grass, towards a broad ridge covered in rounded boulders. Lac de la Croix is then visible to the north, on the other side of a narrow valley.
Note: to get the most out of the walk, do take a stroll along this magnificent ridge and discover the countless little lakes nestled amongst the granite polished by the glaciers.
Then head up this ridge, generally heading west. As you approach the Col de la Marmottane (this pass is not marked on the IGN map; it lies on the Crête de la Marmottane, just below the Rocher Armorié at 2,602 m – not to be confused with the pass of the same name, which lies much further south), head northwards to reach the low point on the hillside.
(6) From the pass, descend the very steep couloir to the east, which quickly turns into an easier gully heading east-north-east. Follow the gully until you reach a pile of large boulders marking the bottom of the Combe de la Croix, where you will come across a cairn-marked path.
(7) Follow this winding path uphill to Lac de la Croix.
Cairn-marked path
(8) Go round the lake along its eastern shore, then head diagonally north-east up towards the Col du Sambuis. A faint track and a few cairns mark the route. Below the pass, the slope becomes steeper and the track climbs beneath the rocks through a gully of small, greasy, dark grey schist.
(9) At the pass, head east behind (north face) the eastern summit bordering the pass, descending slightly towards an elongated lake. Then follow the thalweg of the lake’s outlet briefly, heading due east along the left bank, before veering left off the thalweg to skirt the base of the rocks, still heading due east, and arriving in a wide couloir overlooking Lac du Sambuis.
(10) Once you have descended to the lake, go round it along its eastern shore, then follow its outlet, zigzagging a few times to get round the rocky outcrops. When you reach the flat area below, a path follows the stream, passing two small pools before joining the green-marked route leading to the Cime du Sambuis.
Green markings
(11) Join the path and follow it down, first southwards, then south-eastwards, to reach the footbridge crossing the Glandon.
Yellow markings
(12) Cross the footbridge, climb up the opposite slope to join the main path to Lac de la Croix and follow it down towards the Col du Glandon. Take the path leading uphill (right) at the first junction, then continue on almost level ground, leaving the various paths on your right that join the main track (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Difficult 
Very difficult 
