Pointe de l'Échelle, Mountain summit in Savoie, France
Pointe de l'Échelle is a mountain summit in the Vanoise Massif standing at 3,422 meters, featuring steep slopes and exposed rock formations on its eastern face. The peak rises above two important mountain refuges that serve as staging points for climbers attempting the route to the top.
The peak became part of Vanoise National Park in 1963, marking a major development in French alpine conservation efforts. This designation shaped how the mountain is used and managed today.
Local mountaineering traditions include annual gatherings at the Refuge du Fond d'Aussois, where climbers share experiences and techniques specific to this peak.
Two mountain refuges serve as base camps: Refuge du Fond d'Aussois at 2,329 meters and Refuge Peclet Polset at 2,479 meters. Most climbers use marked trails beginning from these huts as their primary route to the summit.
The summit marks where three communes meet: Pralognan-la-Vanoise, Aussois, and Villarodin-Bourget, making it a natural administrative boundary point. This unusual location interests visitors who can stand at the intersection of different municipal territories.
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