Day of exploration for the Tot and I. We decided to have a look at the Pas de l'Arche. It was fairly easy to find and the small arch complex is interesting to visit. We didn't go to the cave.

http://www.bivouak.net/topos/course.php?id_course=3849&id_sport=2Comments on route: Care needed on the sections above the Arch Passage when it is humid as they are above cliffs.

Start at the Col des Ayes car park after the final left hand hair pin about 400 meters before the col.

An afternoon discovering a few singles above Bernin and St Ismier. I followed the route: Crolles -> Ch.

From the Reservoirs of the Fontaine Bonnet on the St Nazaire -> St Hilaire road follow the Chemin de la Communeaux unsurfaced road downhill for a couple of hundred meters.

From the reservoirs follow the broken tarmac road towards the Tour d'Arces. The track is very steep, around 15%. Continue past the tower and continue to the Pierre Grosse.

No Name: From St Ismier climb to the Tour d'Arces (medieval watch tower) then take the Pierre Grosse trail. After the Pierre Grosse the "No Name" is on the left.

There are four routes up the Col de la Madeleine on the south sideThe normal route from la Chambre - 19.5km with some 40 wide hairpins.

Follow the Pierre Grosse trail. At the end of the 33 hairpins take the right fork rather than crossing the torrent on the left. After about 20 meters of descent cross the Corbonne stream.

42 minutes for the whole Col, that's a VAM of 959, 17m15 for the part Theys -> Col des Ayes for a VAM of 1043. I obviously took the first part of the climb easy leaving it for the second section.