standard tourist route

Approach

HEIGHT: 2,692m
STARTING POINT: Passy, 5 km east of Sallanches
ROUTE: from the south
GRADE: II
CLIMBING TIME: 4hours 30 minutes
VIEWS: magnificent
TYPE OF GROUND: woodland, stones
MAP: IGN 3530 ET- 1:25,000

The starting point of this route quite fittingly started at the local state sanatorium this is a good place to leave the car. from the sanatorium walk about half a mile up the road to were the road turns right on the other side of the road is the beggining of a broad track head into the woods. a route sign indicates that this is the direction to the summit. The route is maked with red disks. but they can easily be missed

Route Description

follow the broad winding track through the woods were the angle of assent is to about 45°. As you come out of the tree's the path starts to wind up an open exposed section
This scree slopes zigzags on its self and turns behind rock towers. go around behind the rock towers and head for the gap in the middle of this imposing rock wall. crest this and then when you reached the Desert du Plate cross a great expanse of lime stone pavement, and hidden in the middle you will find the Chalets de Plate according to the guidebook your last stop for water. Climb upwards behind the Chalets and follow the marked red disk path northwards to the Col du Colloney. At the Col their are other routes (Blue disks for Mountain bike routes, red and white for grand randone) but they all go to the summit by slightly different but essentialy the same routes as they met just before the gap. The summit of Le Colloney is separated by this gap. and must be reached by a crest like ridge, which is an open exposed section, that must be crossed with care. climb down the end of this crest useing the built in Steel hoop ladder and cross the small snow/boulder-field. corkscreew your way up the scree slope and the summit which has a trig point is reached after a short exposed section. The views are absolutely magnificent, Mont Blanc can clearly be seen

Essential Gear

In winter ice axe and crampons would be essential, and for those who are less experienced a confidence rope would be usefull to belay the exposed sections.

Miscellaneous Info

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Images

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