- Timing: 3h30’ up
- Best season: April - May
- Aspect of the descent: E then N
- Ascent length: 7.900m
In the presence of Grand Golliat
The Col des Angroniettes is a snowy saddle that overlooks the magnificent Bandarray Valley and the Swiss Ferret valley. Discreetly complex and demanding, this route offers unusual glimpses on one of the least explored areas in the W Pennine Alps. From the col, a sensational vista on the E face of Grand Golliat opens up in front of you: you may even reach the pre-summit from the col, climbing up a steep and exposed slope.
The route is made up by an initial climb as far as the Saint-Rhémy col and then a quick descent in the solitary Thoules Valley. Discreetly steep, the final climb must be undertaken only if you are an expert ski mountaineer.
You may also choose this route at the end of May/beginning of June, when the road to the Grand Saint Bernard col is open: in that case, the trailhead is at 2.080m (please check for the exact opening date).
Make the descent via your skin track, freely.
Follow the snowy road closely as far as the plateau, where you cross the Gran Saint Bernard stream. Once you have traversed it and are on the bridge, turn right and follow a shallow forestry road that runs alongside the hamlets of La Tuette (1778m) and, shortly afterwards, goes underneath the Tunnel viaduct. Descend slightly halfway up the hillside and enter the Thoules Basin; at the end of it, keep going in the valley, staying below the Aiguille des Sasses before tackling the steep, final couloir. Climb up the broad couloir and then traverse to the right, aiming at the large saddle that marks the Col des Angroniettes (2975m).
Descent
The descent is via your uptrack, skinning up again to reach the Saint-Rhemy col. The following descent takes place in the large bowl, following the skin track or, late in the season, keeping to the right reaching the hairpin bend above Pra d’Arc. This is a pleasant walk that offers good lappable terrain and consistent good snow conditions: close to the tunnel viaduct, the slope shallows out.