Tête de la Gandolière

Overview

Geographical classification: Western Alps > High Dauphiné Alps > Soreiller group>

Tête de la Gandolière is the closest neighboor of Dôme de la Gandolière on on Soreiller group main ridge. The summit is made of Gneiss. Its basis is made of granite. The mountain has 3 sides:
- the north side is regarding La Selle
- the east side is over Châtelleret
- the southern side is regarding Le Plaret.

Due to global warming, glaciers are becoming small on the E side (Châtelleret) and stone fall are more common at some places: some unstable rocks are loosen by the ice warming.

Getting There

by car (highly recommended)

Grenoble >> Bourg d'Oisans >> Saint Christophe en Oisans>> Vallon de la Selle (access to northern side)
or
Grenoble >> Bourg d'Oisans >> Saint Christophe >> Les Etages >> La bérarde >> Vallon des Etançons or Chatelleret hut (access for normal and Etançons routes)

For those coming from oversea :
Fly to Lyon international airport. Car (recommended) or train to Grenoble, followed by bus to Bourg d'Oisans and smaller bus up the narrow road to Saint Christophe en Oisans and La Bérarde (3 per day in July/Aug Grenoble to La Bérarde) . Car highly recommended !

Routes overview

Normal route NE side : PD
5h from Châtelleret hut

N ridge : PD
approach from La Selle hut to Gandolière pass: 3h, AD
approach from Châtelleret hut to Gandolière pass: 3h, F
Gandolière pass to summit : 2h

WSW ridge : AD
La Bérarde or Châtelleret hut to Glacier du Plaret : 5h
1h on the ridge with good rock

SW face : PD
La Bérarde or Châtelleret hut to Glacier du Plaret : 5h
SW face to summit : 1h

E ridge : PD
La Bérarde or Châtelleret hut to Glacier du Plaret : 5h
Couloir on SE side to the east ridge 30mn
1h on the ridge with good rock

Red Tape

No Red Tape except Ecrins National Park rules (no dog, no camping, only bivouak allowed, no fire, no MTB, no destruction of wilderness)
Refer to Ecrins National park rules.

When To Climb

Summer period is the prefered period for rock mountaineering in Ecrins Massif

Huts

Châtelleret hut CAF 2232 m
Access : Saint Christophe en Oisans >>La Bérarde >> Chatelleret valley.
Activities : mountaineering - Rock climbing- Hiking- Ski mountaineering
- Mountaineering routes and summits : Pic nord des Cavales- Gandolière- Râteau- Pic Geny- Têtes N et S du Replat
- High routes : To la Selle hut, l’Alpe de Villar d'Arène, La Grave via Brêche de la Meije
- Ski routes: Brêche de la Meije - col de la Casse Déserte - col du Replat

The hut is guarded some months and weekends:
Spring: usually in April and begining of May
Summer: middle of June to Middle of September
Reservation is mandatory, please contact Gérard Turc:
adress: 5 chemin de la Buissonière - 38860 Les Deux Alpes
phone number : 04.76.80.03.86
Hut phone number: 04.76.79.08.27

Beds in summer: 70 +20 beds under tent
In winter : 62
The hut belongs to CAF ISERE : 32 avenue Félix Viallet 38000 GRENOBLE
Tél : 04.76.87.03.73
Fax : 04.76.85.26.77

Chatelleret hut route on Oisans.com

La Selle hut STD

La selle hut on montagne-virtuel.com

Camping

CAMPING LES FETOULES
38520 ST-CHRISTOPHE-EN-OISANS
Tél : 04 76 80 23 99
Fax : 04 76 95 47 97
Email : rafting.veneon@wanadoo.fr
Site internet: www.rafting-veneon.com


CAMPING MUNICIPAL DE LA BERARDE
La Bérarde 38520 ST-CHRISTOPHE-EN-OISANS
Tél : 04 76 79 20 45
Fax : 04 7679 06 97
Email :
Site internet: www.berarde.com

Mountain Conditions

Briançon meteo forecast 7 days
Bourg d'Oisans meteo forecast 7 days
Grenoble meteo forecast 7 days

Maps and books

Guide du Haut Dauphiné, tome 1, ISBN 2 909 907 15 5.
Authors: GHM and François Labande
Editions de l'Envol

Map: IGN Top 25 3336ET

Images

View Tête de la Gandolière Image Gallery - 34 Images