Characteristics

In three sections :
The Initiation for children and beginners,
The Junior (junior only in name): exposed with some parts requiring strength,
The Integrale, very exposed, sparsely equipped, overhanging.

ViaFerrata.org - tips

Unless you are an experienced ferratist, steer clear of the Integrale. It is only for skilled climbers in top condition with arms of steel!
Good boots essential. Sneakers are out.
Carry a litre of water on the Junior or the Integrale; they’re long.
Just opposite is another via ferrata, the Plates de la Dalle.

Level

Information

Office du Tourisme de Val d'Isères : Tel: 04.79.06.06.60

Length and Altitude

Start of Via Ferrata: 1'800 m.
Drop via Junior: 300 m.   Length 750 m.
Drop Intégrale: 547 m.    Length 1400 m. (total)

When can you climb it

June at October

Timing

Junior
Access to the ViaFerrata: 5 min
ViaFerrata: 2hh00

Intégrale
ViaFerrata: 3h00 (total with the Junior)
Return: 1 hour 30 from the top

By Road

From Grenoble A41 (or N90) north;
from Chambéry A41 east. Then A430/N90 – Albertville – Bourg St Maurice;  then D902 south to Val d’Isère (28 kms).

To the start  of the viaferrata

At the entry to Val d’Isère, on the right as you mount, opposite the first big building.

Viaferrata climbing

Initiation
That’s its name, but don’t underestimate it. It is quite exposed with some awkward passages. If you are beginning, go with a more experienced person. (That piece of advice is always valuable.)

Junior
A small 5.5 metre wooden footbridge, a climb on grass and a mountain footpath, and then a vertiginous pitch requiring both skill and strong arms. Continue to the next footbridge where there is an escape route…

Integrale
Now, if you are ready to go on, that means you have: a litre of water, genuine mountain boots with soles in good condition, the latest weather forecast, and lots of experience of vias. If you can’t say yes to all these conditions, you have no business starting on this section.

55 metres…what a pretty footbridge! (That’s only the length; you can guesstimate the void for yourself). Then a relentless overhang to be covered in one stretch without changing the karabiner on the cable. You’ll appreciate your sling line for a chance to rest.

Dalle du Lézard, A slab that reinforces the Integrale’s reputation – the footbridge is already forgotten.

Then you discover the “Traverse of No Return”; very long and steep, with 250 metres of void under your feet. About a third of the way along, an athletic manoeuvre calls for more from your aching biceps. The traverse ends with you doing the splits in an even more difficult passage (unless you’re very tall, like me) called the Ortie. Now, up the Pilier Mystérieux chimney and… you’ve reached the summit!

A magnificent panorama over Lac Chevil, La Grande Motte, La Sache, Mont Pourri and, in the distance, Mt Blanc.

Descent

Follow the Tovière ridge. You should catch sight of the dam and an impressive waterfall. Follow the cairns ; it’s quite long (about 40 minutes). After a moment you get to the foot of an electricity pylon; there, aim for a small ruin below near the stream. After another ten minutes, you come to a house. Take the small path off to the left. Find your own way from there on.

Reckon on 1½ hours in all.

Lodging - Hotel - Restaurant

Auberge de Jeunesse of Seez: Tel ++33 4.79.41.01.93

Via Ferrata Pictures