Ski touring from the col de la Croix de Fer

To reach Rieu Claret and the mountain passes after the Lac de Grand Maison, you need to wait until the road officially reopens because even if there is natural thawing, the road remains closed until May (www.savoie-route.fr).
The Refuge de l’Etendard, which is often open, provides a gateway to the St-Sorlin glacier from where you can reach, among others, the top of the Etendard, the “boss” of the Grandes Rousses (or boss no 2... after the Pic Bayle).

SUGGESTIONS FOR SKI-TOURING
> Discovery day route :
- Aiguille de Laisse (2879 m) + 1100 m
> "Classic" routes from a refuge
- Hut of the Etendard, 2430 m
Day 1: Col de la Croix de fer - hut + 400 m
Day 2: Classic itinerary from the hut
- Peak of the Etendard (3468 m) + 1030 m
The Peak of the Etendard, even if he was delighted the first height of the Grandes Rousses by Bayle Peak a single small meter, is the undisputed king of the massif. Long and beautiful exit that crosses glacial plateaus, then reaches the summit at the summit aerial ridge.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
> Getting supplies: Allemond: bakery, mini-market, restaurants.
- Rivier d'Allemond: La Ferme du Rivier (cheese) 06 27 34 18 19.
Saint Sorlin d'Arves: bakery, mini-market, restaurants.
> Accommodation: Allemond: hotel, B&Bs, gîtes.

EAU D'OLLE / BELLEDONNE SECTOR
As soon as your enter Oisans from Grenoble, the Eau d'Olle valley catches your eye... and lures you back again and again… it’s so varied and so beautiful! The routes extend from the village of Allemond up to the Col de la Croix de Fer, from the foothills of the Belledone to those of the Grandes Rousses.
The pointed peaks on the horizon tease city-dwellers during the week and each weekend, the summits cause a mini-exodus from the city to the mountains. Yet approaching from the Oisans side, on skis from the Eau d'Olle valley, you’re sure to be well away from the crowds.
There are different versions of the origin of the name “Belledonne”. Some say it comes from “bella donna”, as Italian workers thought the shape of the Grand Pic looked like the Virgin carrying her child. The Gauls, on the other hand, used the word “belo” to mean strong or powerful, which accurately describes this solid crystalline mountain range, 60 km long, with wide shoulders but narrow 10 km hips.
The highest point, the Grand Pic de Belledonne, verges on 3000 m. It sometimes looks arrogant like the Fitzroy in Patagonia or a black virgin, depending on your point of view. In any case, the Belledonne is a real natural barrier, a citadel of schist and gneiss (and a little granite, of course) and is one of the most untamed mountain ranges in France.

/!\ IMPORTANT
Ski mountaineering and touring involves risks and all skiers are responsible for their own safety. Make sure you follow ANENA guidelines: anena.org