Pointe du Lamet

A hike for experienced walkers that takes you to an altitude of 3,500 metres – one of the highest in France – without the need for specialist kit. No major difficulties apart from the elevation gain and the narrow corridor leading out of the steep slopes, but at the summit, if you’re lucky enough to avoid the nebbia, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view (Rochemelon, Charbonnel, Pointe de Ronce, Giusalet...).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.47 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 8 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,846 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,849 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 11,470 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,713 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Access from France via the Col du Mont-Cenis, then follow the lake towards the Italian border; park at the dam in the small car park on the left-hand side of the road at the start of the track.

(S/E) From the car park, take the track to reach the first bunker.

(1) Continue along the track until you reach a junction.

(2) Leave the track by turning left. You will then follow the contour line, using the tracks left by the cows. You cannot fail to notice, on the left, the old battery, which has been completely blown up. You rejoin the track.

(3) Follow the track (south-eastwards) which runs alongside the Italian border and leads to the Pierres Blanches site.

(4) Here, take the path branching off to the left towards the Baracon des Chamois (the sign is on the ground). This is the old track that used to climb up to the defensive bunkers which guarded the pass. Between 2,500 and 2,700 m, you’ll see plenty of edelweiss along the way (don’t pick them, of course – just enjoy the view...). The path zigzags gently uphill.

(5) From this point, the slope becomes a little steeper.

(6) You pass close to the last blockhouse and the track takes you all the way to its end, at around 2,900 m.

(7) We’re in a world of pure rock; this is high mountain terrain. The slope is steeper but won’t make the return journey any more difficult. We climb over slippery scree, following the tracks and cairns.

(8) Here is the base of the couloir leading to the summit slopes, which are less austere. The route to the right as you ascend seems to be the most frequently used. At the exit, take the track that heads right and passes beneath the secondary summit at 3,483 m. It’s important to stay on the north-easterly track. Bypass the summit to the left to reach the start of the north ridge leading to the Pointe de Ronce. The two summit peaks are right there, just a few metres apart.

(9) At the summit, you’ll never tire of admiring the view, provided the usual cloud cover allows it. A short, easy climb leads to the base of the highest of the two peaks, which you’ll certainly want to scale, and you’ll stand upright just as Rebuffat did on the cover photo of his book *The 100 Most Beautiful Routes of Mont Blanc*.
The descent follows the same route as the ascent, back down to the track.

(2) I chose to head down to the road below to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 6,722 ft - Car park near the dam - Lac du Mont Cenis
  2. 1 : mi 0.26 - alt. 6,844 ft - Blockhouse
  3. 2 : mi 0.62 - alt. 6,886 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.2 - alt. 6,936 ft - Track
  5. 4 : mi 1.68 - alt. 7,218 ft - Heading for the Baracon des Chamois
  6. 5 : mi 3.64 - alt. 8,930 ft - Blockhouse
  7. 6 : mi 3.86 - alt. 9,147 ft - Blockhouse
  8. 7 : mi 4.1 - alt. 9,505 ft - End of the track
  9. 8 : mi 4.85 - alt. 11,093 ft - Exit couloir
  10. 9 : mi 5.27 - alt. 11,470 ft - Pointe du Lamet (Massif du Mont-Cenis, Alpes)
  11. S/E : mi 10.47 - alt. 6,713 ft - Car park near the dam

Notes

There are two options for the start: the one I chose, or near the border at Les Carrières du Paradis.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Kerfred
Kerfred

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was the highest hike I’d ever done up to that point.
It was quite a challenge because of the altitude and the elevation gain. There are two fairly difficult sections with scree and very unstable terrain.
After the pass at 3,400 metres, the final 100 metres are easier.
At the top, there’s a magnificent 360° view of Mont Blanc and other high peaks, the glaciers below and the valley.
There’s a short detour to take at the pass to enjoy a magnificent view of Lake Mont-Cenis. We spotted eight chamois there.

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Gillou l ardechois
Gillou l ardechois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike in excellent conditions – no wind or snow
An exceptional 360° view: Mont Blanc, Viso, Ecrin, Pelevoux, etc., and as a bonus, a herd of chamois just below the summit
This is an alpine hike where you’ll need to use your hands a bit, so it’s for experienced and well-equipped hikers
There are two sections where the path is unstable between points 7 and 8: after point 7 and before point 8
The descent is straightforward, but take great care, especially when setting off from point 8

If you’re going early in the season, take ice axes and crampons if there’s still snow, and don’t attempt it if visibility is poor, in my opinion

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Echo
Echo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with views that would be well worth 15 days’ walking. The first part isn’t all that tedious; the start of the ‘real’ climb through the grass is fairly flat, which means you can make good progress very quickly right up to the battery. Once you reach the scree slope, a good portion of it is quite steep, and the scree towards the end tends to shift easily underfoot. Once you reach the ridge, be sure to take the path on the left that runs beneath it – it’s much easier. We did it in 50km/h winds; that was the only downside, but it’s well worth it.

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