Le Taillefer
2,857 m
France
Also known as TailleferAlso known as
Taillefer
- Elevation
- 2,857 m
- Prominence
- 1,490 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The standard summer ascent from the Combe Oursière car park (about 1,690 m) on the road to Lac du Poursollet above La Morte: up through forest to the broad Crête de Brouffier, through the Pas de la Mine (2,454 m) to the Croix du Sergent Pinelli and the Petit Taillefer, then over the Col du Grand Van and up scree to the summit plateau. About 1,200–1,300 m of ascent; 6–7½ hours as a loop.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 6.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,207 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,859 m
- Time Up
- 4h 53m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 19m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park beside the D114E at Combe Oursière, next to the memorial to three soldiers killed in an avalanche in 1976, a steep, eroded path climbs out of the forest along the Fontenettes stream to a junction at about 2,140 m on the gently domed Crête de Brouffier. Keep left along the crest (cairns) rather than dropping to Lac de Brouffier and its cabin, and traverse south to the Pas de la Mine (2,454 m), the weak point of the Arête de Brouffier, named after an old lead mine. Above the pass, climb the ridge north-east past the Croix du Sergent Pinelli (2,616 m) to the red, iron-stained Petit Taillefer (2,696 m), about 45 minutes from the Pas de la Mine. A difficult step here and there can be avoided on the south-west side. Drop to the Col du Grand Van (about 2,740 m), then follow a path winding up the scree of the north-west slope to the broad, stony summit plateau and the metal statue of Saint Éloi, about 30 minutes from the Petit Taillefer. The usual descent is a loop: from the Col du Grand Van go down the combe north towards Lac Fourchu with the Rocher Culasson on your left. This slope is very steep, loose and hard to follow in places, and early in the season holds a steep snowfield that needs crampons and an ice axe. From the Plateau des Lacs follow the GR50 past Lac du Poursollet, Lac Punay and Lac Claret back to the car park (2½–3 hours from the summit). Returning by the ascent route avoids the steep combe. Do not go up the ridge in fog or wet weather.
Start
Combe Oursière1,675 m
- No summer public transport to the Poursollet road was confirmed; a car is needed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Combe Oursière → Le Taillefer | 6.4 | 1,207 | 28 | 4h 53m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Combe Oursière1,675 m
Roadside car park next to the 1976 avalanche memorial; the road from La Morte is closed by snow in winter
- Col: Pas de la Mine2,444 m
- Feature: Croix du Sergent Pinelli2,606 m
- Shoulder: Le Petit Taillefer2,689 m
- Col: Col du Grand Van2,745 m
- Summit: Le Taillefer2,857 m
Key Passages
- Pas de la Mine (snow-filled and avalanche-prone in spring)
- Arête de Brouffier past the Croix du Sergent Pinelli
- Scree slope from the Col du Grand Van
- Steep, loose combe from the Col du Grand Van to Lac Fourchu (descent)
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The Taillefer (2,857 m) is the high point of its own small massif south-east of Grenoble, between the Romanche valley and the Matheysine plateau. A red, iron-stained summit plateau with a statue of Saint Éloi, reached by a long, loose but non-technical walk over the Pas de la Mine.
The Taillefer massif is a compact block of crystalline rock between the Romanche gorges to the north, the Col d'Ornon to the east and the Matheysine plateau to the west. Its summit is a broad, rounded and stony plateau, tinted red by the iron that gives the mountain its name, above a steep north face that holds snow into late spring. With nearly 1,500 m of prominence it is one of the most prominent summits in France and an outstanding viewpoint over the Oisans, Grandes Rousses, Belledonne and Vercors, from Mont Blanc to Mont Ventoux.
The usual approach starts high, from the road to Lac du Poursollet above the small ski resort of La Morte (Alpe du Grand Serre), so the ascent is about 1,200–1,300 m. The route follows the broad Crête de Brouffier, slips through the Pas de la Mine and runs along the ridge over the Petit Taillefer before a short climb up scree. The usual descent loops back through the Plateau des Lacs, a high plateau scattered with small lakes.
In summer it is a long, rough walk with no real climbing; in spring the Pas de la Mine becomes a steep, avalanche-prone snow slope, and the Taillefer is one of the classic ski tours of the Grenoble area.
Climbing Notes
Fitness for a 7-hour day with 1,300 m of ascent on rough ground is the main requirement. In summer and early autumn no technical skills are needed, but the summit slope and especially the descent combe towards Lac Fourchu are steep scree where a slip is easy; people unsure on loose ground should return by the ascent route. Early in the season (snow often lingers into early July) carry crampons and an ice axe and know how to use them, as the Pas de la Mine and the slope below the Col du Grand Van can hold hard snow. Avoid the ridge in fog, wet weather or strong wind, and start early to stay ahead of afternoon storms. In winter the route is a serious ski tour or snowshoe outing with known avalanche risk at the Pas de la Mine.
History
The name refers to the iron-rich rock, and the Pas de la Mine is named after an old lead mine. The first ski ascent was made on 23 March 1923 by Georges Manquat and J. Richard. In 1976 an avalanche killed three soldiers, who are commemorated by a memorial at the Combe Oursière trailhead. On 3 April 1998 soldiers of the 7th Régiment du Matériel from Varces installed the summit statue of Saint Éloi, patron saint of smiths, made from old tank armour; its 110 kg body was carried up by relays of four men.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Ski touring only; Poursollet road not cleared; avalanche risk at the Pas de la Mine
- Feb
- Ski touring only
- Mar
- Ski touring season
- Apr
- Spring ski touring; road to Poursollet may open late in the season
- May
- Snow on the upper mountain
- Jun
- Snow at the Pas de la Mine and below the Col du Grand Van; crampons and ice axe
- Jul
- Early July may still have steep snowfields; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Busy on fine weekends
- Oct
- Early snow and ice possible; parties have turned back in late October
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- The route crosses the Natura 2000 Taillefer site and black grouse (tétras-lyre) winter protection zones; stay on the paths and avoid these zones in winter
- Getting There
La Morte (Alpe du Grand Serre); La Mure; Grenoble
Grenoble Alpes-Isère (GNB); Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS)
- Car: from Grenoble via Vizille and Séchilienne to La Morte (Alpe du Grand Serre), then the narrow D114E north towards Lac du Poursollet to the Combe Oursière car park (about 1,690 m); the road is closed by snow in winter
- No summer public transport to the trailhead was confirmed
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Avalanche
- Exposure
- Weather