PlanetMountain.com - Snow - Off-piste of Val d'Isère - France


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The following descents are described:
  1 Col Pers
  2 Col du Montets
  3 Vallon de la Sache
  4 Col de Premou

When there's no fresh snow left on the slopes near the lifts then head for Col du Montets. Although the approach takes 40-50 minutes, the view and isolation make the effort worthwhile.

Orientation
North

Best time of year
January - May

Difficulty
Relatively easy. Like Col Pers, if there isn't enough snow in the Gorges du Malpasse, then the re-entry to Val d’Isere becomes problematic.

Length
Ascent: 270m
Descent: 1485m

Getting there
From Fornet take the lifts to Col de L’Iseran, then the chairlift to des Cascades and then the skilift des Montets.

Itinerary
At the top of the skilift carry your skis or use climbing skins to ascend rightwards onto the Ouille Noire, 3229 m.
Descend from here onto the other, east facing side and traverse up the Montet glacier northwards. Alternate traverses with descents until the plateau is reached beneath the Col du Montet, 2900m.
Put your climbing skins back on and ascend the slope which steepens significantly towards the end (35-40°). A rope may be useful for added security.
At the col there are two options:

1) the classic itinerary, which traverses rightwards (east) for a few hundred meters and then descends onto the glacier Sources de l’Isère

2) the steeper alternative, which descends directly into the valley. This leads to the Prariond refuge.