Roignais
2,995 m
France
Also known as Le RoignaisAlso known as
Le Roignais
- Elevation
- 2,995 m
- Prominence
- 1,028 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Jul
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: R4 (French hiking scale) (bivouak.net) · Difficile (altituderando.com)
The easiest way up the highest summit of the Beaufortain: from the end of the track above Les Échines (about 1,950 m) along moraine crests to a plateau at about 2,550 m, then a 350 m couloir averaging 40° and reaching 45° at the top, often holding snow into summer and exposed to rockfall, to a cairned notch at 2,910 m and a short easy scramble to the summit.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 5 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- DIN time up 4.31 h vs published 2.75 h (+57%)
- low confidence 0.4
- Le Chapelet → Le Roignais: dem (snap_failed, 3.4 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Plateau below the NE couloir, Roignais NE couloir, Notch at 2910 m
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,118 m
- −76 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,995 m
- Time Up
- 4h 19m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 55m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Bourg-Saint-Maurice take the Cormet de Roselend road; at Le Châtelard turn left for Les Échines, then at the bend above Les Échines take the road towards the Fort de la Platte and the Céré chalets. Just before the fort fork left and drive via Le Céré (1,850 m) to Le Chapelet (about 1,950 m) as far as the rough track allows. From the parking, walk north-west on a small path following the crest of old moraine mounds on the left bank of the Nant Blanc to a flat area at about 2,550 m at the foot of the north-east couloir. A faint trail climbs the couloir's scree until about 150 m below the top, where it steepens; the couloir averages about 40° with a final 100 m at 45°. There is no protection, and stones fall from the face, especially on the climber's right as snow softens; keep to the left. A snowfield often lingers here into July, and later in the season the ground is loose rock or hard snow. From the cairned notch (about 2,910 m) a faint path crosses broken rocks along the crest to the fore-summit, then a short, easy and not very exposed scramble leads to the summit. Allow 2¾–3 hours up and 2–2½ hours down by the same route, taking great care descending the couloir.
Start
Le Chapelet1,953 m
- Train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice; no public transport to Le Céré or Le Chapelet.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Chapelet → Le Roignais | 3.4 | 1,118 | 76 | 4h 19m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Le Chapelet1,953 m
End of the drivable track above Le Céré; park where possible
- Summit: Le Roignais2,995 m
Key Passages
- Moraine crest along the Nant Blanc
- North-east couloir (40–45°, rockfall)
- Cairned notch at 2,910 m
- Short easy scramble to the summit
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
The highest summit of the Beaufortain (2,995 m), a rocky pyramid between the Roselend road and Les Arcs above Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Even its normal route climbs a steep, stone-swept couloir that often holds snow into July.
Le Roignais is the high point of the Beaufortain massif in Savoie, rising on the ridge between the upper Beaufortain valleys and the Isère valley at Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Unlike the grassy, rounded summits that give the Beaufortain its gentle reputation, the Roignais is a steep rock peak, and with about 1,000 m of prominence it stands clearly above its neighbours, the Pointe de Combe Neuve and the Pointe de Leisette, and is prominent in the view from Arc 1800.
The usual approach starts high, at the end of the track above Les Échines and the Fort de la Platte, so the ascent is only about 1,000–1,150 m. The key section is the north-east couloir: 350 m of scree or snow at 40–45° with no protection and frequent stonefall, followed by an easy rock scramble along the summit crest. The couloir faces north-east and keeps its snow late, which makes it a classic early-season snow climb and a steep ski descent for experts.
Climbing Notes
Treat this as a mountaineering objective rather than a hike. You need to be comfortable on steep, loose ground and, early in the season, on 40–45° snow with ice axe and crampons; a helmet is essential because of rockfall from the walls of the couloir and from other parties. Start early so the couloir is climbed before the sun softens the snow and loosens stones, and keep to the climber's left side.
The round trip takes 4½–5½ hours from Le Chapelet. Late in summer the couloir is a dry scree and rock gully; some find no equipment necessary then, but the rockfall hazard increases. A traverse of the summit ridges (AD) and the south ridge are harder alternatives for experienced climbers. There is no hut on the route.
Season
Best Jul- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Good
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; the couloir is a steep ski descent for experts only
- Feb
- Winter; avalanche terrain
- Mar
- Ski mountaineering in the NE couloir for experts, depending on avalanche conditions
- Apr
- Ski mountaineering; the access road is snow-bound low down
- May
- Snow climb in the couloir; long approach until the track is clear
- Jun
- Good snow in the couloir in the morning; ice axe and crampons needed
- Jul
- Snow often remains in the couloir in early July; watch for rockfall as it melts
- Aug
- Couloir usually dry and loose; rockfall
- Sep
- Dry and quiet; loose rock in the couloir
- Oct
- Possible until the first snow; verglas in the shaded couloir
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Chambéry-Savoie (CMF); Geneva (GVA)
- Car: from Bourg-Saint-Maurice take the Cormet de Roselend road; at Le Châtelard turn left to Les Échines, then follow the road towards the Fort de la Platte and fork left before the fort to Le Céré (1,850 m) and Le Chapelet (about 1,950 m); the track beyond Le Céré is rough
- Train: Bourg-Saint-Maurice station (TGV and regional trains); no public transport to the trailhead
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- Avalanche
- Weather