Pic De La Belle Etoile North Face

Ski-Areas > Northern Alps > Isère (38) > Belledonne > Les Sept Laux > Off Piste > Pic de la Belle Etoile North Face

This is a Grand Classic, on one day at the end of April we found some 30 skiers on the summit at 10am! It is a real fiesta atmosphere. The north facing slopes are shadier than those of the Pra and the route is much more popular, possibly due to its distance from the resort and the slightly easier skiing. The summit is easily recognizable as it is home to a mobile phone pylon.

North Face of the Belle-Etoile

From the bottom of the Pra Bowl skiers climb up under a large rock usually snow free, this is the Rocher de l'Evêque, later in the season a track wends its way up this slope. This avoids climbing up through the shrubs that grow either side of banks of the combe du Vouteret. The bowl is easy climbing, bending around to the east when it approaches the west ridge of the Etoile. Their are two main descents, either the direct face under the summit (rated 3.2) or the slightly easier slopes of the Col des Mottes. Skiers can also descend to the Sept Laux plateau and then climb to the Pic de Cabottes. The north west face of this summit is rated 4.2.

Atomic Test Center

In late spring, when there is insufficient snow lower down it can be a good idea to climb 50 meters to a small col behind the Rocher de l'Evêque to reach the Combe du Pra. The flatter, lower slopes hold their snow better and lead directly onto an easy track.

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