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ROUTE 8

Via Ferrata de la Tour du Jallouvre

Location	Le Grand-Bornand, Haute-Savoie (GPS: Lat. 45º 59’ 20.53” N Long. 6º 28’ 3.49" E)
Length	1100m
Ascent/Descent	620m
Route grading	technical grade: 4; exposure: 5; seriousness: C
Total time	4hrs 30mins (approach: 30mins; route: 3hrs; return: 1hr)
Highest altitude	2040m
Map	3430ET
Technical notes	direction: SW; escape points: 1
When to visit	Closed 15 November–15 May
Useful website	www.legrandbornand.com

This is the perfect via ferrata for mountain lovers. The route scales the steep southeastern flanks of the Pic de Jallouvre (2408m), one of the pale limestone peaks of the Aravis Massif, and offers extensive views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The via ferrata is of high quality and makes good use of the heavily eroded karstic terrain. It is fairly long, occasionally strenuous, and in its latter stages, supremely exposed. Although there is an escape path part-way along, the outing should be undertaken only by those in a decent state of fitness and when the weather forecast is good. In addition to the fine views, your efforts should be rewarded by a close encounter with yellow-billed choughs (a relative of the crow), chamois or Alpine ibex. This latter species of hardy mountain goat is known in France as a bouquetin.

Access

From Annecy, follow the D909 to St-Jean-de-Sixt and then the D4 to Le Grand-Bornand. Continue on the D4 in the direction of the Col de la Colombière for around 10km (passing through Le Chinaillon). Shortly before the col, there is a parking area with a via ferrata information panel to the left of the road. The route can be started from here, or alternatively – for a more level approach path – drive on for 1km to a hairpin bend. Park on the left, next to some piles of rubble.

Approach

The path from the lower parking is well signposted and descends and then ascends the shallow valley between the car park and the southwest end of the cliff-face opposite. From the higher parking area, follow an unmarked path running parallel to the cliff-face (which contains several bolted sports climbing routes) until the first cable is encountered.

Route

Start by following a leftwards rising traverse that gradually bends around the cliff-face. Other than a few short steps progress is straightforward until the cable leads across some large slabs beneath an overhang (Arche du Bouquetin). The climb through the overhang is brief but quite arduous due to the placement of the rungs, which are fairly small. Some smeary holds on the slightly polished rock may be helpful to shorter climbers.