Trip Report : La Tournette

Too many of the routes on this range require the painful description return the way you came up so with a simple drop off at Les Pres Ronds (or even better Chalet de l'Aulp the road is ok) it is pleasing to continue and cross the range to be picked up in Montmin.

The undertaking is not however to be underestimated. Even from this high start there is still 3000ft of unrelenting uphill in front of you, initially on steep eroded grass but as you reach the Refuge that marks the end of the first 1000ft climbing the going gets rougher and rock soon dominates.

The route is not for the faint hearted as there are several easy scrambles with chained support of required the highest being very wet and slippery, definitely one for ascent not descent. After the last the ground eases a little until you are left with the final climb on chains and ladders up to the higher summit.

The descent to Montmin is a piece of cake in contrast as a gentle sloping contour path cuts to the right of the summit rock and follows a steady route along beneath the summit ridges before cutting down the slope at the col before you climb to Pointe de la Becccaz. At this point the path steepens and makes for the river valley which it then follows into the village which your path enters right next to the church where there is able parking.