Le Rateau

Overview

Geographical classification: Western Alps > High Dauphiné Alps > Le Râteau

Le Rateau is a kind of la Meije continuation in the west direction, Le Rateau has a West-East 1 km long summit ridge without any big height difference.
The north side over La Grave and Romanche valley is steep and dangerous and gave reputation to the mountain.

trip to Le Râteau

le Râteau faces

routes overview

The many routes are very different from F to ED difficulty.

Main Route: S ridge route: snow route, F
La Selle hut (2672m) to Brèche du Rateau 3235m - 3h
Brèche du Rateau to summit (575Hm) - 2h
return from summit to hut - 3h

Pictures of le Râteau ascent


E summit N side route: Ice and Rock route, TD
Evariste Chancel hut (2508m) to rimaye (3250m) 3h30
Rimaye to summit (3768m) 8h

W summit NNE side route TD+, Ice , bad Rock and ice route
Evariste Chancel hut (2508m) to rimaye (3250m) 6h
Rimaye to summit (3768m) 12h

W summit route: AD, snow and rock
From Col de la Girose to summit 250Hm

Getting There

Grenoble >> Bourg d'Oisans >> Saint Christophe en Oisans
or
Grenoble >> Bourg d'Oisans >> La Grave
or
Briançon >> Lautaret pass >> La Grave

Red Tape

No red tape except Ecrins National Park rules

When To Climb

Summer period. To get more snow and less ice/rock falls prefer the earliest part of summer.
Some technical climbs can be done in winter.

huts

La Selle hut (2 672 m)
Start point: Saint Christophe-en-Oisans.
Difference in height: 1033hm . Time to go: 4h30.
GPS : 32T N / 4984.678 E / 283.107.
IGN map: 3436 Est.
Hut phone number : 04.76.79.56.56.
Hutman phone number : 04.76.44.75.94.
Places : 64 summer et 40 winter.
Open : june 15 to september 15
mountains or routes accessible from the hut :
Col du Replat, Tête Nord et Sud du Replat.
Rateau Est.
Col de la Girose et voie normale Rateau Ouest.
Pilier Candeau au Rateau Ouest.
Brêche du Rateau.

Evariste Chancel hut (2400 m)
Phone : O476799232 Fax. : O476799705
Web Site : http://www.refuge-chancel.com
E. Mail : daniel@refuge-chancel.com;annie@refuge-chancel.com
Places : 39
night and diner: 33,5€
night only: 13,5€
Open : 31/12/02 -01/05/03 and 15/06/03 to 15/09/03.

Camping

Camping in La Grave

Mountain Conditions

La Meije cable car web-cams

meteo 7 days Briançon

meteo 7 days Bourg d'Oisans

meteo 7 days Grenoble

meteo 7 days Gap

Historical Ascents

1st ascent (SE side) july 11 1873, Christian Almer, Christian Roth, Peter Bleuer, Peter Michel, M. Brevoort and W.A.B. Coolidge and ... the dog Tschingel.
SE side August 25 1881, W. M. Baker, W. E. Gabett, A. Pollinger, J.M. Lochmatter.
S ridge route July 03 1876 J.Anderegg, Andreas maurer, Henri Cordier
E ridge. July 03 1876 J.Anderegg, Andreas maurer, Henri Cordier to come back
S ridge route from la Selle August 2 1878, F.Gardiner, C. Pilkington, L. Pilkington.
W summit, July 17 1906, Christophe Turc Father and soon, H. Scott Tucker.
W ridge. July 17 1907, Christophe Turc Father and soon, H. Scott Tucker.
Complete E ridge. 1922 Ch H Brook, Devouassoud, Gaspard, J. Eymard.
W ridge. July 30 1932. A. Giraud and A. Salin
NNW ridge. August 5 1931 A. Giraud , J.A. Maurin, A. Roux J.F. Van Der Warden
N face August 18-19 1938. M. Fourastier, A. Madier
South side. july 23 1941 Y. Baffie, P. Pâquet
Direct SW route. july 19 1943 F.Germain, G. Chomat
Summit ridge traverse. september 23 1948. P. Hartmann, A. Virnot
NNE route to W summit, July 16 1966, C. Baret, J.L. Georges

External Links

• Le Râteau on Bivouak.net
  ski tour and hiking topos
  

Images

View Le Rateau Image Gallery - 64 Images