A reversal of the approach used to ascend the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière which winds its way down the Glacier de la Sassière.

Statistics

1

day +

1,927

m

1,927

m

36

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

Start from Nant Cruet or as far up as they have cleared the road, then hike to the snow line or skin directly from your car if possible.

Follow ‘Le Nant Cruet’ summer path up the valley to the foot of the Glacier du Font and head for the little notch between the Fond & Sassière glaciers.

Follow the Glacier de la Sassière all the way up to the West ridge of the Grande Sassière to then bootpack the final 100m. If it hasn’t been too wind scoured, it should possible to ski straight from the summit before picking your way down between the Fond & Sassière glaciers which then spit you out into the Nant Cruet where these two glaciers had once carved out the steep valley walls, giving you up to 1800m descent back to Nant Cruet. The north east face off the summit is quite steep and care must be taken that you have sufficient snow cover to ski this pitch.

If you don’t then a simple walk back down the west ridge that you used to ascend will then lead to a shoulder where you can attach your skis/board and join in on the glacial descent. Once the steep pitch has been skied, you’re then on the Glacier de la Sassière, where the usual care must be taken not to ski into any of the clear ’slumps’ in the terrain, marking crevasse danger.

The glacier will soon funnel you back to the ascent path which you can stick to, to guide you home through some stunning scenery.