Country:
District:
Access via Val d'Isère, car park at Pont Saint-Charles, on the road to Col de l'Iseran.
(S/E) Head east on the good Prariond trail that climbs up the grassy slopes. When it levels out before entering the Gorges du Malpasset, a trail branches off to the left.
(1) Take this path which climbs up the grassy slope, then winds along the right bank of the torrent before climbing a grassy ridge, still on the right bank. It then returns to the centre of the slope and climbs up to a pass at 2661 m.
This climb up the Pentes des Cavales, clearly visible from the start, is steep, particularly in the last section, but effectively covers 600 m of elevation gain.
(2) From this point, the summit is visible, as is the gently sloping valley leading to it.
Take the well-marked path into the Tenn de Rhêmes. Avoid the chaotic areas that have fallen from the Pointe de Bazel by climbing slightly to the right before crossing a glacial umbilicus (an old filled lake).
The terrain then becomes gentler and purely rocky at the foot of the Pointes de Bazel and Calabre cliffs. The path disappears but cairns provide easy guidance to the glacial lake.
(3) Climb up the thalweg upstream of the lake as best you can, keeping your eyes peeled (the cairns become fewer and fewer) between a few sheep-backed rock bars (white on the left, dark on the right). You may have to cross a few feet of snow.
As you approach the final slopes, go around a rock barrier that is more continuous than the others on the left and cross upwards to the right on a platform above until you reach the foot of the centre of the summit ridge, passing the rocky outcrops visible above.
(4) Climb back up towards the ridge in an area of large scree where the slope appears least steep. To climb the south peak first, bear slightly to the right to reach the ridge, then follow it among large boulders to the summit, keeping to the west flank, which is not very exposed.
(5) From the southern summit, descend to the central part of the ridge and continue to the northern summit, first along the ridge line, then down the western slope.
(6) The descent is made by returning to the ridge and then diagonally across the western face (a few visible tracks).
(4) From the foot of the slope, return via the same route, first to the glacial lake, then to the Tenn de Rhêmes where you will find a path, and finally via the Pentes des Cavales, whose steepness makes for a challenging descent.
(1) Continue straight ahead to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Tourism professional
Difficult 
Easy 
