Col de la Golette
Hike from the hamlet of Les Granges in Salvan to the Vallon de Van. Passing Lac de Salanfe and Col de la Golette, this demanding route offers magnificent scenery.
16/02: 1,400m+ & -
From the hamlet of Les Granges in the Commune of Salvan - Col de Golette - Lac de Salanfe - return via the Vallon de Van
The start path (footpath/cross-country ski trail) is not covered in snow, so you'll need to carry a load for 20 minutes. The ascent to the top of the resort follows the route of the resort's Rando Parc in hard to transformed snow. The landscape that emerges is always pleasant to observe from these heights. However, the lack of snow is very noticeable, as this is normally a fairly complete starting route.
The rest of the ascent has no particular constraints or difficulties. The snow is not extremely good, but you have to adapt to the winter we are having...
The upper part of the Col de Golette (40°) can be tricky, and you'll need a good level of ski touring experience if you want to ski in good conditions. On the day in question, the snow was very hard but the portage was possible without crampons, thanks to the big steps cut for the race that had passed through there the day before. Under normal circumstances, this route can be more complicated, so we recommend that you take care and use the right equipment.
The main negative point of this outing was the visibility: it was very average on the descent to the lake, a spot that normally offers a magnificent bird's-eye view and, when the weather permits, a picture-postcard setting. The luminosity was very strong, bordering on a white day (this is an atmospheric optical phenomenon, in which contrasts are nil and everything seems to be enveloped in a uniform white glow due to low sky, snow on the ground and poor visibility. The observer can't discern shadows, horizon or clouds, and loses all sense of depth and orientation.)
Added to this is the blowing snow, a mixture of hard snow and powder, which is rather unpleasant and not recommended for beginners.
Once we've reached the dam, the descent into the Vallon de Van is different. At this altitude we had to deal with transformed snow, and the Vallon seemed to be well exposed in places...
The last few kilometers were done on foot due to the lack of snow.
A physical and interesting outing, but one for people with mountain experience and a good level of fitness.
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