This Article first appeared in
AAC(UK) Newsletter 183
published Autumn 2009

[Return to Index of Meet Reports]

Our intention is to populate this right hand column with photographs taken on this meet. If you attended the meet, have good digital photographs which might be appropriate, and would be willing to see them displayed here, please send them to our Webmaster. If you would like to see examples of how we would use them, please see either the Solu Khumbu article from Newsletter 170 or the Dolomites Camping article from Newsletter 176. 

The Vanoise National Park

by Steve Mann

Where is it?

  • In the French Alps: South of the ski resorts of the Trois Vallées, West of Val d’Isere. Borders the Italian Grand Paradiso National Park.
  • Use IGN 1:25,000 maps 3534OT & 3633ET

How do you get there?

  • Quickest: Cheap flight to Grenoble/Geneva then train to Modane 1000m or train/bus to Pralognan-la Vanoise 1420m. Pralognan is the best base or launching off point.
  • Greenest: Eurostar train from London to Modane.
  • Most flexible: Drive from UK. Allow 12 hours on toll motorways from channel ports.

What’s there to do?

  • Late spring: Ski-touring including traverse of the Glacier de la Vanoise, taking in Dome de Chassefort 3497m, Dome de l’Arpont 3601m.
  • Summer: A one week circular hut tour of the central part of the park (recommended). Or a ten day figure of eight tour taking in the central and southern parts. Limited scope for alpine ascents of peaks other than those already mentioned.
  • No mountain biking: Go to the ski resorts in summer and use the lifts.

Best Bits:

  • Extensive network of refuges (CAF, private farms and National Park). The key huts are the Col du Vanoise, the Refuge de Peclet Polset and the Refuge de l’Arpont. Make sure these are pre-booked in high season. All huts have well equipped winter quarters and a late summer/early autumn tour using thesewould be an unusual and peaceful option.
  • Distant views of the south side of Mont Blanc.
  • Sightings of rare ibex near the Refuge de l’Arpont.
  • Good free museum of the Haute Vanoise/Dauphine in Grenoble at the foot of the fort.

Worst Bits

  • Huts and buses start to close for the season in mid-September. Check!
  • No wild camping in the National Park.

[ Return to Index of Mountaineering Articles ]

[ benefits ]  [ activities ]  [ membership ]  [ members' website ]  [ links ]  [ archive ]

Last updated:    01 October 2009