Le Pommier Blanc crossing

From Moûtiers, reached via the RN 90, head towards Bozel, then Pralognan-la-Vanoise via the CD 915.
At Pralognan, head towards Les Prioux (CD 124) where there are several car parks along the road before it is closed to general traffic.

(S/E) Take the path climbing eastwards towards Cirque des Nants-Refuge de la Vallette. It climbs steeply at first before reaching a few short levelled sections in the Béveriers area, then approaches the Torrent des Nants, which it follows up the right bank until you see a footbridge.

(1) Avoid descending towards the footbridge, but climb up a recently cut track on the right, which joins a path climbing up from the footbridge and continues to the right until you reach the "Torrent des Nants" junction with the balcony path linking the Valette refuge to Montaimont.

(2) Here begins the off-trail section, with the distinctive rock in front of the Pommier Blanc in your sights. Climb up the Vallon des Nants to catch up with a few rare paths that climb to the right, but return to the south-east to aim for the passage of a path at the foot of a rocky ridge and continue to the bed of a torrent that is a tributary of the Nants.

Climb up along the left bank of this torrent and when the gorge narrows, turn right to climb up a path before returning above the torrent. From there, head for the small pass clearly visible south of the Pommier Blanc, via an easy grassy climb, rising at the foot of the pass and ending in a very steep grassy couloir, which you can climb either straight up the slope or by making a few switchbacks on accessible side ledges.

(3) From the pass, follow the ridge path northwards, bypassing the first ledge on the left before climbing up a steep, earthy couloir on the ridge, which is relatively narrow but easy going, to the summit.

(4) After enjoying the view, return by the same route to the small pass.

(3) Continue a little way along the ridge path towards the south, the slopes towards Ruisseau des Ferrandes becoming increasingly passable as you go, and descend to the right as soon as you feel comfortable, to reach the bottom of the valley, which you descend to the north-west, through meadows, blueberry bushes and rhododendrons, with few traces of the trail until you reach the trail crossing at an elevation of 2,020 metres, with a small lookout point on the right.

(5) Take this path to the left (southwest), which overlooks Lac du Clou near the chalet of the same name and joins the main marked path coming from (2) near a peat bog.

(6) Continue left, southwest, and start descending, leaving the trails to the left towards the Col d'Assois and turning right to join a pastoral road at Plan des Bôs.

(7) Descend either the road or the marked trail that cuts across its hairpin bends and arrive at the edge of the Chalets de Montaimont.

(8) Turn right and head north towards Les Prioux on the unpaved pastoral road. After the third hairpin bend, you can take the more pleasant marked trail on the right, which cuts across the last hairpin bend and joins the Pont de la Pêche crossroads.

(9) You will arrive at the upper car park. Descend the road to the Passerelle des Anciens.

(10) Follow the Torrent de Chavière on the right bank to return to the starting point. (S/E)

There are numerous car parks around Les Prioux: you can park a little higher up and walk back down along the road, thus shortening the road section on the return journey.

The lower sections are marked with directional signs at the crossroads. The section above the balcony path is mainly off-trail and therefore unmarked. Good visibility is therefore required for orientation.

There are no technical difficulties except for the climb up the grassy corridor under the pass and the ridge, which may seem exposed to those who are afraid of heights. These sections require dry ground to avoid slipping.

The marked trails are fairly busy, but the off-trail section is not at all, except for herds of cows in summer.

The views are not very extensive (unlike the Petit Mont Blanc opposite) but you are below the Vanoise glaciers (Glaciers des Sonailles and Génépy), facing Péclet-Polset and the nearby peaks up to the Grand Bec.