Ski touring in La Rosière: Le Bec Rouge 2515m

Le Bec Rouge is a summit located between La Rosière and Sainte-Foy, culminating at an altitude of 2515m. In winter, Le Bec Rouge ski touring is a very diversified and authentic route, starting in the villages, the first part of the hike is in the forest, then a wide ridge dominating the Haute-Tarentaise valley until its summit. The descent is also a huge playground with many options to make your tracks!

Start of the ski touring hike of Le Bec Rouge from La Rosière villages

We will talk here about Le Bec Rouge route starting from the village of Les Moulins. The village of Les Moulins can be reach by car from the road that goes up through La Rosière’s villages, at the level of Le Villaret you have to continue the road towards Sainte-Foy, the village and the starting path are after the bridge on the left. This is where we put on our touring skis at an altitude of 1400m to take the Cavette forest path which runs alongside the Moulins torrent. The atmosphere is quiet and fresh in the morning due to the proximity with the torrent.

This first climb reaches the village of Le Vaz which is also possible to access from Le Chatelard. Once arrived at Le Vaz, we continue our climb towards La Roche. Through the snowy trees, we can see the village of Chatelard and Mont Pourri during the ascent to La Roche.

Reach the top of the Mousselard forest.

At La Roche, we have to continue by the forest paths to leave the forest of Le Mousselard. Sometimes it is not easy to spot the path if you are on the first track, the main thing is to keep climbing until the forest let place to a more mountainous and open landscape around 2000 meters. The change of scenery is quite obvious, you have now a clear view of Mont Pourri and the entire Haute-Tarentaise valley.

The transition between the forest and the long ridge that leads to Le Bec Rouge.

This is the steepest part of the climb, a few conversions will be necessary to go up the little steep part towards the North-East which permits to join the last part of this ascent by ski touring towards the Bec Rouge. It is also the place where awareness  must be the most important because it is a part with slopes sometimes steeper than 30 °. If the visibility is not good, it is before this part that we advise you to give up, because afterwards there are no more trees to find contrast!

The breathtaking ridge that leads to Le Bec Rouge.

Once the steepest part is behind us, all that’s left is this wide and beautiful ridge to the top. Nevertheless, there is still some distance that should not be overlooked! However, the 360 ​​° panorama which allows you to observe La Rosière, Sainte-Foy, Les Arcs as far as Val d’Isère and the summit, will make you forget that your legs are getting heavy.

You have reached the summit of Le Bec Rouge by ski touring at 2515m!

For the descent, several routes are possible depending on your level and your experience. During the ascent it is possible to observe the descent route, in particular the most obvious and less steep descent, exposed North-West. You also have the option to chose a steeper slopes between the rocks facing North or for locals and experts of steeper slopes to switch to the side of Sainte-Foy to reach the Miroir. For all downhill routes, do not underestimate the avalanche risk, right down to the bottom of the valleys! Once you have went down the North-West face, the most obvious, you will arrive in the at the valley of Piche. From this point, you will have to slalom between trees and the Nant du Piche torrent to Petit Bois and Le Vaz. This last part is probably the most technical of the descent with a lot of obstacles so keep some energy until the end!

Main information of Le Bec Rouge ski touring route from the villages of La Rosière:

Access: From the village of Les Moulins at 1400m on the climb to La Rosière

Starting point of the hike: The path of La Cavette next to the bridge in the village of Les Moulins.

Intermediate point: The summit of the Mousselard forest at an altitude of around 2000 meters.

Summit: Le Bec Rouge at an altitude of 2,515 meters

Return: By the North-West Face and the Piche valley to Petit Bois, then take the Cavette path again along the torrent to finish to the starting point.

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Find the most beautiful ski touring routes in La Rosiere !

Le Passage des Trois Moines at the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass

La Rosiere is keeping up its reputation for ski touring! Therefore, there are many and diversified routes of ski touring in La Rosiere. From the Ecudets forest to the Franco-Italian ridges or the Pic of La Louis Blanche, terrains and expositions are very different. This allows you to adapt the trip depending on the weather but also on your level and your experience. In this article, we will talk about about a ski touring route accessible from the La Rosiere ski area. It is an easy technical one but quiet long, the change of scenery it provides and the panorama really worth the effort!

Le Passage des Trois Moines (The passage of the Three Monks)

The passage des Trois Moines is located in front of the slopes that link La Rosiere to La Thuile at the level of the Petit Saint-Bernard pass. Between the Roc de Belleface and the Lancebranlette! Above the “Lac sans Fond” (the Bottomless Lake), for those who know the area in the summer. Le passage des Trois Moines peaks at 2812m and dominates on one side La Rosière and the Haute Tarentaise valley and on the other the Versoyen valley which remains untouched in winter.

Your efforts will be rewarded!

Of course, in ski touring you have to climb, even if the elevation remains reasonable, about 700 meters from the Petit-Saint Bernard hospice, the distance is still to be taken into account. These said, this relief allows a pleasant hike from start to finish, with regular slopes and some flat. A few conversions will wait for you at the end of the route before you can find out what’s on the other side.

Once passed on the other side of Le Reclus (the torrent that separates the two face of the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass) we are already far from the ski area that we observe from the opposite, and therefore alone in the world, from there begins a steady climb. The intermediate stage is the plateau of Lac Sans Fond located at 2460 meters. A peaceful place where a refueling break is essential. Indeed, the slope is a bit steeper from this point to the top of the route, but the scenery that is emerging under our eyes pushes us to continue more motivated. As we approach the Passage des Trois Moines, we can see a tapered ridge before us, as if it has been sculpted by the wind.

You are arrived at the Passage des Trois Moines!

You can now enjoy the panorama from both sides of the mountain. A high mountain atmosphere with this aerial ridge will make you forget all the efforts endured. For this beautiful hike a ski like the Zag Ubac 95 is an ideal compromise for the long climb, and to be able to enjoy the descent! You will appreciate your turns in these isolated valleys and to impress your relatives you will be able to see your tracks from the ski area! Once back at the starting point, there is an extra little effort to make, you have to put again your skins on your ski to reach La Rosière ski area at the Piccolo chairlift or the at Bellecombe 1 druglift.

 

Ski touring in La Rosiere, le Passage des Trois Moines itinerary, main information:

Access: From La Rosiere ski area, you can start with the beautiful North face of the Fort, by the “Combe à Justin” descent for example or simply from the bottom of the Chardonnet chairlift to the Marquise bridge.

Starting point for the hike: The flat under La Marquise bridge at 2115 meters.

Intermediate point: Lac Sans Fond at an altitude of 2460 meters.

Summit: Passage des Trois Moines 2812 meters.

Return: From the starting point of the hike, put on your skins to reach the ski area at the Piccolo chairlift at the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass or to the Bellecombe 1 druglift.

Need liftpass: Yes

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