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Petit Croisse Baulet

Megève Evasion Mont Blanc

Albertville

A beautiful tour with an easy approach and fabulous skiing.

Also in Savoie, France

Ski Touring Moderate

Distance
4.8 km
Ascent
341 m
Descent
715 m
Duration
2-3 hrs
Low Point
1.3 km
High Point
2 km
Gradient
33˚
Petit Croisse Baulet Map

This route could not be much more easily accessed because it starts at the confluence of the Jouty, Près and Pertuis chairlifts, all of which are part of the sprawling Megève ski area.

Description

Start by skiing briefly down the Jorace red piste (which goes west from the lifts) and then turn off left from the piste at the first bend and head off into the trees and onto a jeep track. Put skins on where the track begins to climb up and follow it through several sections of trees and a number of clearings to reach the foot of the Petit Croisse Baulet's broad east ridge. Skin up the ridge through ever sparser trees and with ever improving views. The ambience gets better and better as you climb and there is a feeling of emerging into the high mountains as you leave the trees behind.

Just before reaching the summit of the Petit Croisse Baulet there is a small, short step of slightly steeper skinning and then the ascent finishes with an easy cruise to the summit. There's a signpost on the summit so there's no doubting when you have arrived! The view across the Aravis peaks and over to Mont Blanc and its satellite mountains is awe inspiring, and the summit plateau is flat so there's plenty of space to sit and enjoy your surroundings.

When you decide to get skiing, ski south-west off the summit and then head due south through perfectly spaced trees on a wide, blunt ridge. When the ridge flattens out, drop off right and follow a series of vague gullies and bowls to a wide open slope with some chalets on it. Blast down the open slope to a jeep track and follow this rightwards to the Treffleannaise blue ski piste. This in turn leads to the hamlet of Le Plan, from where you can reenter the Megève lift system.

The skiing is fantastic all the way down to the jeep track and there are countless variations you could take. Follow your nose and just use the line drawn here as a basic guide rather than a fixed route.

The tour is short enough and the lift system fast enough that there will be plenty of time for another lap if fitness and psyche allow!

Difficulty

Moderate

Slopes become slightly steeper at around 25-30 degrees.

Medium Exposure (E2)

2 out of 4

As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.

Remoteness

3 out of 4

Little chance of being seen or helped in case of an accident.

Best time to visit

between December and March

Features

  • Tree Skiing
  • Single Descent

Equipment required

  • Skins

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area