Description

A brilliant short ski tour to a well-positioned summit with views of the Grande Casse and the other major Vanoise peaks up behind Pralognan - a stunning skyline which is worth the walk.

It is possible to combine this tour with the Combe des Roches descent with a short extra skin, or if you are really quick and the morning sun isn’t too warm you could drop over the Col du Mône and down the East-facing descent to the Roc de la Pêche and/or Pralognan.

The skiing is generally mellow though the upper slopes do catch any wind that comes from the West. From the Col de Chanrossa take the obvious traverse line under the Roc Merlet and hike or skin up to the shoulder beyond the two rock towers.

From here ski down passing the Merlet refuges to get to the Chalets de la Grande Val.

From here gentle skinning takes you up a broad whale-back ridge towards the Col des Saulces but before you get to this bear right in the direction of the Petit Mont Blanc’s West face.

A few kick turns will get you up to the table d’orientation on the summit.

Admire the views then ski back down the way you came - there is loads of scope for variation if you kept your eyes open on the way up… Once at the Chalets de la Grande Val continue on down the valley and follow this with a couple of flat sections and a short walk until you hit the cross country tracks above 1650.

5 minutes of skating will get you back to the Granges button lift.