- Timing: 3h10’ up
- Best season: February to mid April
- Aspect of the descent: S, E
- Ascent length: 6.050m
In the solitary Belle Combe
The Col des Ceingles, also called Col de Saulié, is a small pass that divides the Combe des Merdeux from the Combe de Thoules along the mountainous rocky line that descends from Petit Golliat. This route starts in the Combe des Merdeux and then goes into the little-known Belle Combe. Not too popular, solitude lovers will be in their elements, as they will revel with infinite laps along unmarked territories.
The first stretch at the bottom of the valley and the last steep section leading to the col must be undertaken only with well-anchored slopes and good snow conditions.
The descent is via your uptrack, following pleasant gradient changes, which make it very enjoyable.
If you intend to go over the col, we suggest you’ll tackle it climbing up on the N face, setting off from Saint-Rhémy and descending along the face described here.
Discreetly difficult overall, considering the length and the approach to the col, this route is recommended for good ski mountaineers.
Leave the road going up to the Grand Saint Bernard pass to the right and keep going on the state road E27 until you find the exit for the resort of Crévacol to the right. Continue for about 500m until you reach the big car park: leave the car on its west side.
Head due west going under the flyover of the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel and, following the track of the forest path, climb the first shallow slope. Run alongside the house of Devies and enter the Merdeux valley, along a shallow slope, passing Limassey and then reaching the Pots pasture (1,791m). Go along the base of the Merdeux valley and then climb up to the right, towards the Tsa de Merdeux (2.273m).
Crab to the left and climb up the steep slope to the left of the small valley until you reach another valley that leads to the col. When the gradient increases, follow the small valley to the left and then cross to the right high up to reach the Col des Ceingles (2809m).
Descent
Make the descent freely along your skin track. A good descent with several gradient changes, you may need to push a little in the final stretch that shallows out.