Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne

Ever since joining Cub Scouts as a boy in 1976 and learning about the outdoors, Andy Hodges has loved mountains. As a student he became a modern sports climber in France, while his summers were spent leading walking groups in the hills and mountains of the UK. A volunteer member of Mountain Rescue for 16 years, he has walked, climbed and cycled extensively in the Vanoise since discovering it for himself in 2004.

Introduction

Geography
The Vanoise National Park
Geology
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
History
Art and culture
Travel
When to go
Accommodation
Mountain refuges
Language
Insurance and rescue
Maps and navigation
Weather
Clothing
Wet weather alternatives
Using this guide

1 Day Walks

Route 1 Lac de l'Arcelle
Route 2 La Pierre aux Pieds
Route 3 Lac Blanc and Plan des Eaux
Route 4 Vallon de la Rocheure
Route 5 Pointe de Lanserlia
Route 6 Hannibal's Crossing (Col Clapier)
Route 7 Mont Froid
Route 8 Pointe de Bellecombe
Route 9 High Valley Walk
Route 10 Pointe de l'Observatoire

2 Mountaineering Routes

Route 11 Pointe Droset
Route 12 Cr&##xea;te de la Turra and Pointe du Grand Vallon
Route 13 Pointe des Fours
Route 14 3000ers Circuit
Route 15 Lessi&##xe8;res Traverse
Route 16 Le Petit Vallon
Route 17 Roche d'Etache
Route 18 Traverse of Pointe de Cugne
Route 19 North Ridge of Cime du Laro
Route 20 Signal du Petit Mont Cenis
Route 21 Ar&##xea;te de L&##xe9;ch&##xe9;
Route 22 La Dent Parrach&##xe9;e

3 Via Ferratas

Route 23 Le Pichet, Lanslevillard
Route 24 The Pinnacles, Aussois
Route 25 Guy Favre, Balme Noir

The Victor Emmanuel Fort Complex

Route 26 Travers&##xe9;e des Anges
Route 27 Mont&##xe9;e au Ciel
Route 28 Les Rois Mages
Route 29 Descente aux Enfers
Route 30 Remont&##xe9;e du Purgatoire

Via Ferrata/Rock Climbing

Route 31 Via Cordatta, Col de la Madeleine

4 Rock Climbing

Route 32 Rocher des Amoureux
Route 33 Solli&##xe8;res
Route 34 Rocher de Termignon
Route 35 Blocs de la Madeleine
Route 36 Dalles du Mollard
Route 37 Drailles Blanches

5 Mountain Biking

Bike hire and bike shops
The routes

Route 38 Termignon and Solli&##xe8;res Circuit
Route 39 La Girarde
Route 40 Champions' Loop
Route 41 Chemin du Petit Bonheur
Route 42 The Sardi&##xe8;res Monolith
Route 43 Mont Cenis Circuit

6 Road Rides

Route 44 Col du Mont Cenis
Route 45 Aussois Loop
Route 46 Col de l'Iseran
Route 47 Col du Galibier

7 Walking Tours

Route 48 Tour of the Vanoise Glaciers
Route 49 Tour of M&##xe9;an Martin
Route 50 Tour of Pointe de l'Echelle

Appendix A Route summary tables
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C Useful phrases