Dôme de la Gandolière

Overview

Geographical classification: Western Alps > High Dauphiné Alps > Soreiller group>

Dôme de la Gandolière is a typical Soreiller summit made of Gneiss on a granite base.
This summit is the in the middle between Le Plaret and Tête de la Gandolière on Soreiller group main ridge. The summit is not directly connected to Soreiller like le Plaret. The sides of the mountain belong to very wild places.

Because the mountain is truly wild and not crowded, you will find there the same attraction the mountain had on the 19th century pioneers. Don't come here to find classical and frequently repeated climbs, with some equipment in place.

Getting There

by car (highly recommended)

Grenoble >> Bourg d'Oisans >> Saint Christophe en Oisans>> Vallon de la Selle (access to northern side)
or
Grenoble >> Bourg d'Oisans >> Saint Christophe >> Les Etages >> La bérarde >> Vallon des Etançons or Chatelleret hut (access for normal and Etançons routes)

For those coming from oversea :
Fly to Lyon international airport. Car (recommended) or train to Grenoble, followed by bus to Bourg d'Oisans and smaller bus up the narrow road to Saint Christophe en Oisans and La Bérarde (3 per day in July/Aug Grenoble to La Bérarde) . Car highly recommended !

Routes overview

Normal route east ridge: F
La Bérarde (or Chatelleret hut) to Glacier du Plaret : 5h
East ridge ascent to summit: 1h

NW ridge : AD
Approach from La Selle hut: 2h
Rock climbing: 5h

SW ridge : AD
Approach from La Bérarde or Chatelleret hut to Glacier du Plaret : 5h
Rock climbing on the summit ridge (good rock): 1h30

Gandolière traverse : AD 11h :
Same as SW ridge route with in addition Tête de la Gandolière
traverse and descent to Châtelleret hut.

Red Tape

No Red Tape except Ecrins National Park rules (no dog, no camping, only bivouak allowed, no fire, no MTB, no destruction of wilderness)
Refer to Ecrins National park rules.

When To Climb

Summer period is the prefered period for rock mountaineering in Ecrins Massif

Camping

CAMPING LES FETOULES
38520 ST-CHRISTOPHE-EN-OISANS
Tél : 04 76 80 23 99
Fax : 04 76 95 47 97
Email : rafting.veneon@wanadoo.fr
Site internet: www.rafting-veneon.com


CAMPING MUNICIPAL DE LA BERARDE
La Bérarde 38520 ST-CHRISTOPHE-EN-OISANS
Tél : 04 76 79 20 45
Fax : 04 7679 06 97
Email :
Site internet: www.berarde.com

huts

Châtelleret hut CAF 2232 m
Access : Saint Christophe en Oisans >>La Bérarde >> Chatelleret valley.
Activities : mountaineering - Rock climbing- Hiking- Ski mountaineering
- Mountaineering routes and summits : Pic nord des Cavales- Gandolière- Râteau- Pic Geny- Têtes N et S du Replat
- High routes : To la Selle hut, l’Alpe de Villar d'Arène, La Grave via Brêche de la Meije
- Ski routes: Brêche de la Meije - col de la Casse Déserte - col du Replat

The hut is guarded some months and weekends:
Spring: usually in April and begining of May
Summer: middle of June to Middle of September
Reservation is mandatory, please contact Gérard Turc:
adress: 5 chemin de la Buissonière - 38860 Les Deux Alpes
phone number : 04.76.80.03.86
Hut phone number: 04.76.79.08.27

Beds in summer: 70 +20 beds under tent
In winter : 62
The hut belongs to CAF ISERE : 32 avenue Félix Viallet 38000 GRENOBLE
Tél : 04.76.87.03.73
Fax : 04.76.85.26.77

Chatelleret hut route on Oisans.com


La Selle hut STD

La selle hut on montagne-virtuel.com

Mountain Conditions

Briançon meteo forecast 7 days
Bourg d'Oisans meteo forecast 7 days
Grenoble meteo forecast 7 days

Books and maps

Guide du Haut Dauphiné, tome 1, ISBN 2 909 907 15 5.
Authors: GHM and François Labande
Editions de l'Envol

Map: IGN Top 25 3336ET

Images

View Dôme de la Gandolière Image Gallery - 8 Images