Mont de Péclet from Val Thorens

From Albertville, follow the N90 up to Moutiers. There, take exit 40 towards Les Belleville and drive up the valley along the CD 117 to Val Thorens. Outside the winter season, it is possible to park in the resort (near the Rescue Centre or the Gendarmerie).

(S/E) To get there, join the summer cycle path towards Les Menuires, heading down past the blocks of flats via a semi-covered lane, along the Grande Rue then the Rue de la Boucle, and follow the cycle path to the left.

(1) Follow the dirt track running parallel to the cycle path; it gradually veers away from it from the giant ‘VAL THORENS’ letters. 300 metres further on, look out for the start of the Combe du Pluviomètre path on the right (do not go as far as the stream crossing).

(2) Follow the path on the right up into the Combe via a series of switchbacks, then, after a flat section, continue straight up alongside a fence (do not be tempted by the path branching off to the right, which is a mountain bike track). The slopes level out along a gentle ridge leading to Lac de Montaulever.

(3) Leave the lake, turning left towards the west, until you reach the “Sur le Lac” junction.

(4) Turn sharply right to climb towards the Col de la Chambre. The path climbs along the hillside above the lake, then ascends towards a ridge, crosses to the right – sometimes on a slope – before climbing back up towards the ridge and emerging onto the flat area at the Col de la Chambre.

(5) The summit and the route to it are visible from this point. Take the track heading right towards the top station of a chairlift and continue to the avalanche-triggering facilities (Gazex). Beyond the track, continue to the gas storage facility overlooking Val Thorens.

(6) From there, there is no proper path, but a fairly visible trail marked by cairns. It climbs up the centre of the face, then joins the south-east ridge of the mountain, before traversing left into a rockier area, climbing straight up towards the summit (there are cairns dotted about everywhere towards the end).

(7) Turn back towards the Col de la Chambre. As you approach the Gazex, it is possible to take a more direct route (GPS descent track), but the route via the Gazex (6) is the easiest to follow.

(5) You can descend via the ascent path, or opt for the grassy ski runs, which offer an easier route, even where there is no defined path. Take the track leading towards Les Menuires and, from the junction with the track coming from Mont de la Chambre, descend towards Sod-Ouest via the tracks cutting across the road’s hairpin bends. Follow a line of snow cannons. Towards the bottom, veer left to return to the Lac de Montaulever area.

(4) At the ‘Sur le Lac’ junction, turn right and cross a small pass, then head down the other side via a path that makes good use of the terrain, joining a track at the bottom at the Canyon junction.

(8) Take this track on the left and head for the start of the Combe du Pluviomètre.

(2) Continue straight ahead in the opposite direction to your outward journey.

(1) Turn right over the footbridge onto the Grande Rue. Turn left behind the Emergency Services Centre and turn right to head back up to the car park. (S/E)

Naturally, this route is only accessible once the ski season has ended.

The circular route is almost entirely on tracks or paths; only the last quarter of an hour is off-trail, but there is a clear path to follow (good visibility is essential, however).

Lac de Montaulever, which you pass on the way up, is a lovely spot home to the Alpine newt.

The view from the Col de la Chambre is particularly expansive, except to the east, where it is blocked by the higher peaks of the Vanoise.