La Clusaz - Col de la Crosatie

A determined climb from the La Clusaz basin to a high pass in the Valdigne. The route starts at 1660 m, in already-mountainous surroundings where the last conifers alternate with pastures, and gains height steadily up the valley. With +1168 m packed into just 6 km, the gradient is sustained and the route demanding, best tackled with good fitness. As you climb, the woodland thins and gives way to high-altitude meadows and an increasingly rocky setting, up to the final scree slopes that precede the Col de la Crosatie (2829 m). Crossed by the Alta Via No. 2, the pass links the La Salle flank with the Planaval valley and repays the effort with the austere high-mountain scenery that surrounds it. The descent retraces the ascent. Difficulty E.