Via Ferrata Croix des Verdons, Courchevel, Savoie, France
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Foot Bridge
Monkey Bridge
Ladder
Zip Line
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Characteristics
Real mountain terrain, narrow passages, fairly exposed route. The magnificent panorama, overlooking the valleys, takes your breath away. Uninterrupted view of Mt. Blanc.
ViaFerrata.org - tips
Before setting out, contact the Tourist Office for the cablecar timetable. Not open every day. Closed 12.00 – 1.30 p.m, and after 4.30 p.m. (so start fairly early, the via is long). Be careful; because of the altitude, névés may last into June and early July.
Don’t forget; you need sun-cream and dark glasses.
Level
Strength
Vertigo
Type
High Mountain
Technique
Evaluation
Difficult
Explication Level (Information)
Strength 1. for beginners and kids 2. needs some via ferrata experience 3. needs some physical strength (at least 1 difficult part) 4. extremely demanding, needs excellent physical condition
Vertigo 1. low 2. middle 3. high, some parts with considerable exposure 4. very exposed
Type Plaine - Mountain - High Mountain 1. abundant equipment 2. contacts with the rocs 3. scarce equipment
Technique 1. easy, beginner 2. with bridge, ladder, etc.. 3. need deep knowledge (zip line)
Information
Tourism Office Courchevel : 04.79.01.03.66. Outside of France ++33 04.79.01.03.66
Tourism Office Meribe : 04.79.00.30.38. Outside of France ++33 04.79.00.30.38
Length and Altitude
Via Ferrata start: 1’850 m. ViaFerrata finish: 2'739 m
From the A41, south of Chambéry, take the autoroute – Albertville – Moutiers. Continue to Brides-les-Bains then, either take the D90 to Mèribel-les Allues, or go on for a few kms and turn off to Courchevel.
To the start of the viaferrata
From Courchevel (1850 m), take the Verdons cablecar followed by the Saulire cablecar. From the top station, 10 minutes’ walk northward along an barely distinguishable crest. From Méribel, take the Burgin – Saulire cablecar; or from Méribel-Mottaret take the Pas du Lac cablecar. An information panel, at the foot of a spur, indicates the start of the via installations.
Viaferrata climbing
The first hundred metres along the cable lead to a typical passage called La Porte (The Gate). After a descent and a traverse, you come to the major feature of the via: Le Curé, a vertical 50-metre monolith.
Overall, a genuine mountain environment: narrow passages, almost overhanging, but very well equipped on the descent from Le Curé. Ledges and slabs that are less steep but still exposed. Nothing but bare rock and an unusually high summit for a via ferrata.
Discovery of the Trois Vallées area, observable only from a distance in winter. Some resemblance to the Dolomites, cradle of this sport.
