Pointe de Friolin

Access via the Tarentaise Valley, after Moutiers then Aime. At Bellentre, head towards Montchavin and the Vallée des Bauches. Park in the small car park below the Bauches chalets.

(S/E) Take the footbridge and follow the path to the northeast until you reach a fork.

(1) Turn right onto the path towards Croix Bozon and continue to a second intersection.

(2) Continue right, climbing up to Croix Bozon.

(3) From here, take the ridge heading south towards Mont des Croix. The path is well marked, then the slope becomes steeper as you approach the rocks. Follow the numerous arrows and red marks on the rocks to reach Pointe de Friolin.

(4) From the Pointe, head south towards a small pass between altitudes 2707 and 2739.

(5) Head left, then descend a little and reach a small ridge facing south-east. Follow it to its end, then look for a trail on the mountainside that will allow you to continue. You can reach the ridge after the first few ledges or continue along the slope for longer. Then pass near elevation 2802.

(6) The route turns south. Do not stray too far from the ridge before reaching the ski slope and join the slope.

(7) Continue along the track. Keeping to the left, pass near the arrival station of the Glaciers 2 cable car to reach the beautiful viewpoint of this unnamed peak.

(8) After visiting the three signposts and admiring the beautiful view of the Beaufortin, Mont Pourri, Mont Blanc, the Vanoise, the north face of Bellecôte and the Pichères, take the north-west ridge to visit the two secondary peaks and begin the descent. Leave the trail and join the ski slope below, then the end of the slope.

(7) From here, a more or less visible trail leads back down to the ascent route. Pass near the 2802 metre mark and avoid climbing back up to the small pass, continuing along the lower ridge. Head west, then left, then straight up the slope along an old path until you come to a large rock face, which you avoid by going left to reach Lac du Friolin. The path is now well marked.

(9) From the lake, continue the descent to the start of the Chalet de Bellecôte chairlift.

(10) Take the path on the right that runs alongside and crosses one of the arms of the Nant Benin, then avoid the Dérochoir.

(11) Continue on the trail that descends northwards to the bottom of the Vallée des Bauches. Pass by the chalets of L'Arc, Pramain and Pra Premier. Follow the road back to the car park (S/E).

There is little or no water on the way up.

There are several options: you can descend directly to Lac de Friolin to reduce the elevation gain, or stop at Croix Bozon or Mont des Croix for a round trip.

The passages through the boulders are easy and not exposed, as are the sections without tracks.

There are many red markings on the boulders, so it is impossible to get lost.

After the (5), it is possible to cross over, as the first ledges may not be very inviting on the way up and are easier to negotiate on the way back. The same applies to the return from the ski slope.

From the Pic sans Nom viewpoint, the landscape is magnificent and only blocked by Bellecôte, so it is important not to settle for the Pointe de Friolin.

You can descend to Lac de l'Etroit by adding 150 metres of elevation gain.