Via Ferrata L'Aiguillette du Lauzet, Via ferrata in Le Monêtier-les-Bains, France
This via ferrata route ascends approximately 1,640 feet (500 meters) through the Cerces mountain range, featuring equipped passages along rocky faces with steel cables, ladders, and footholds that guide climbers to an elevation of 8,530 feet (2,600 meters) with commanding views over the Écrins massif and Guisane valley below.
Established in the 1970s as the second via ferrata created in France, this route reflects early development of the sport in the French Alps and has remained a reference installation for mountain enthusiasts seeking secured access to high-altitude terrain while maintaining its original character through regular maintenance and equipment updates.
The route embodies the Alpine tradition of making mountain terrain accessible while requiring physical fitness and mental composure, with local mountain guides sharing knowledge of the surrounding peaks, wildlife including marmots and chamois, and contributing to environmental awareness through responsible outdoor practices in this protected mountain environment.
Access begins at Pont de l'Alpe parking area at 5,610 feet (1,710 meters), followed by a 45-minute to 1.5-hour approach hike before reaching the cable start, with the complete via ferrata section taking approximately 2 to 3 hours and descent via switchback trails returning to the starting point, requiring harness, helmet, shock-absorbing lanyard, appropriate footwear, water, and gloves.
The route features a narrow tunnel passage carved through rock that climbers must traverse in darkness before emerging onto exposed slabs, followed by a final choice between a long hiking ascent or a steep equipped section to reach the summit, where four mountain ranges meet in a single panoramic view.
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