Le Tarent
2,548 m
Switzerland
Also known as ლე-ტარენტი, La TarentAlso known as
ლე-ტარენტი · La Tarent
- Elevation
- 2,548 m
- Prominence
- 1,002 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T3+ (hikr.org (winter snowshoe report, hiking grade)) · Ski PD+ / 2.3, final slope about 35° over 50 m (Camptocamp (ski normal route))
The normal route, best known as a ski tour but also walked in summer: from the Eau Froide valley above L'Etivaz up alp pastures past Le Fodéra to the shoulder at point 1,822, then into the north combe and up a short, steep final slope (35–40°) to the north shoulder and along the crest to the grassy summit. About 1,350–1,400 m of ascent.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 10.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,536 m
- −211 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,548 m
- Time Up
- 6h 50m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 5h 05m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From L'Etivaz (1,140 m) follow the road up the Eau Froide valley towards the Perruz chalet (about 1,200 m; parking is very limited, and parking along the road out of the village is banned in winter). Continue on the forest track to the water intake at about 1,280 m, then climb south-west over pasture to the chalets of Le Fodéra (1,532 m) and Le Lévanchy (1,710 m). From the top of the pasture traverse left along the track to the shoulder at point 1,822, where the path to the Châtillon branches off. From point 1,822 a gently rising traverse leads into the north combe of the Tarent (L'Audalle), which is followed past the south side of point 2,221. Above, a small side combe and a short steeper slope of 35–40° lead right to a shoulder a few tens of metres north of the summit; the top is then reached easily along the crest. There is no marked path above the alp, and the slabs and flattened grass of the upper slopes are slippery when wet. Hikr and Camptocamp reports describe the final traverse as slightly exposed. Descend the same way. In summer the route is used much less than in winter, when it is a popular ski and snowshoe tour (with avalanche risk on the traverse above point 1,822 and on the wind-loaded final slope). Allow about 4–5 hours up.
Start
L'Etivaz1,223 m
- PostBus on the Château-d'Oex–Col des Mosses road to L'Etivaz (check the timetable).
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L'Etivaz → Le Tarent | 10.4 | 1,536 | 211 | 6h 50m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: L'Etivaz1,223 m
- Feature: L'Audalle1,847 m
North combe of the Tarent
- Summit: Le Tarent2,548 m
Key Passages
- Traverse from point 1,822 into the north combe
- Steep final slope to the north shoulder (35–40°)
- Short, slightly exposed crest to the summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 50%Overview
The highest summit of the Vaud Prealps (2,548 m), a grassy-topped limestone peak on the ridge between Les Diablerets and L'Etivaz. Best known as a classic ski tour from L'Etivaz; in summer there is no marked path to the top and the final slopes are steep grass.
Le Tarent rises on the long ridge that runs from the Col du Pillon towards the Col des Mosses, separating Ormont-Dessus (Les Diablerets) to the south from the Pays-d'Enhaut and the Eau Froide valley above L'Etivaz to the north. With 1,002 m of prominence it is the highest point of the Pic Chaussy–Pare chain and of the Vaud Prealps; its neighbours on the ridge are the Châtillon (2,478 m) to the west, beyond the Col du Tarent, and La Pare (2,540 m) a few hundred metres to the east.
The summit is grassy and makes a good viewpoint over the Diablerets massif and the Vaud and Fribourg Prealps. The mountain is above all a winter objective: the north-facing route from L'Etivaz up the combe of L'Audalle is a popular ski and snowshoe tour of about 1,350 m. In summer the same line can be walked, but above the alp pastures it is pathless, with slabs and steep, flattened grass that is treacherous when wet.
Walkers wanting a marked trail usually choose La Pare next door instead, reached on a T2 path from Lac Retaud or Isenau above Les Diablerets (about 900 m of ascent from Lac Retaud). The ridge linking Pic Chaussy, Châtillon, Le Tarent and La Pare is a serious scrambling traverse (T5–T6, PD) on grass and loose rock.
Climbing Notes
In summer, plan for 1,400 m of ascent and 4–5 hours up on pathless grass and slabs; go only in completely dry conditions, as the steep grass is very slippery when wet or frozen. Navigation skills and a map or GPS track are needed above the alp. In winter the route from L'Etivaz is a moderate ski tour (2.3 / PD+) with a short 35–40° final slope, which can be wind-loaded; the traverse above point 1,822 is exposed to spontaneous avalanches from the slopes above. Full avalanche kit and a current avalanche bulletin are essential. Parking in the Eau Froide valley is very limited, and parking along the road outside L'Etivaz is banned in winter.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Good
- February: Good
- March: Good
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Popular ski and snowshoe tour from L'Etivaz; check the avalanche bulletin
- Feb
- Ski tour season
- Mar
- Ski tour season
- Apr
- Late ski tours; snow line rising
- May
- Snowmelt; wet grass and old snow
- Jun
- Snow on the north side; summer route only once dry
- Jul
- Summer route when dry; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Often the most stable month
- Oct
- Frost on the grass makes the upper slopes dangerous
- Nov
- Early snow, not yet enough for skiing
- Dec
- Ski tour if snow is sufficient
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Parking along the road from the edge of L'Etivaz to the end of the cleared road is banned in winter (since 2014); park in the village
- Getting There
L'Etivaz and Château-d'Oex (north); Les Diablerets (south)
Geneva (GVA)
- L'Etivaz is on the Château-d'Oex–Col des Mosses–Aigle road, served by PostBus
- Les Diablerets is reached by the Aigle–Les Diablerets railway; in July and August the Diablobus runs to Lac Retaud for La Pare
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Exposure
- Weather