Vertical Climbed: 1,046 meters (3,432 feet)
Vertical Descended: 1,030 meters
Rating: 3.2
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 840
Route
From the car park next to the hut, take the forest track, then follow the summer path, indicated by yellow marks, then fairly visible green and yellow markings. Go almost straight up, turning left (E) until you're close to the cliffs.Follow a rocky ledge to the right (W) (fairly steep ascent) and just above it, ignore an obvious couloir and cross to the left on a ledge (short exposed passage at 1550 m).Continue this upward traverse to the east until you find another ledge at the foot of high cliffs (a second exposed passage) beneath a prominent and characteristic rocky spur: this is the famous pas (1620m altitude).
After skirting it via a SE traverse, climb the following valley on a gentle slope, then turn right to cross an easy, south-facing rocky spur.Above this, there are 200 m of gentle slopes to climb, but beware: it's a bit like being on a glacier, with holes everywhere (deep scialets).Several passages are possible in this complex terrain.
Descent: the forest is skiable in good snow conditions, and for the lower 500 m you can choose between piste and forest.
Crampons are a good idea.
Trip Report
Back from Geneva around 10:00 pm I woke up at 9:00 am, too late to catch Luc and co. so another plan.
The climb is very dry, I caught a guy with Pierre Menta skis who has skin problems (they don't stick anymore). The track in the switchbacks was well made, but watch out anyway.
Impressive view of the Alps from the top. Great snow on the descent but technical after the pas de la port. Then I stayed on the trail (easier than bush wacking in the forest.)
Snow sticking to skins after the pas de la Porte. Excellent on the descent but lack of snow lower down
