Mont Aiguille  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  6,884' Lat, Long:  44.8401, 5.5458 Map Page Views:  4,496. Good page? (3 likes)    Administrators:  Euan Cameron, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Brian in SLC on Mar 3, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: Mont Aiguille

Description 

Rising like an impenetrable fortress above the surrounding country side, Mont Aiguille strikes a proud position standing alone off the Vercors plateau.

The birthplace of alpinism? The Affable King of France decreed Mont Inaccessible be climbed and in 1492 (same year Spanish royalty funded some Genoese feller to go on a boat trip), Antoine de Ville and company accomplished the task. The mountain wasn’t ascended again until 342 years later. Given the terrain and the day, it does boggle the mind…

With nearly 30 routes, 8 to 10 of which are considered classic and/or well travelled, from grades from 3c to fairly hard and frightening, Mont Aiguille has something for nearly every aspiring alpine climber.

The trail approach is sublime, the peak and its climbing routes command great position, and the views from the large flat top are stupendous. A climb of Mont Aiguille makes for a great day. An early start is prudent, especially in peak season.

Note: unless you down climb the standard route (the Voie Normale at a grade of PD), you’ll need at least two ropes, 45 meters long each, to rappel the standard descent. Given the up traffic on any given day and loose rock, the standard rappel descent is much recommended.

Standard rappel decent (aka Voie de descente par le coulioir des Tubulaires puis les rappels da la Freychet)

On the approach, if hiking in towards the Northwest aspect of the mountain, look for an area at the base with a cluster of trees rising up on ledges in the middle of the face. Above these trees is the tower of the Gemini (La Tour des Gémeaux). To the right is an open gully. Hidden right of that at the base is where the last 45-60m rappel finishes, which is behind the large tower of the bull (Taurus); tour du Taureau. Above that is the grand coulior des Tubulaires.

On the summit plateau, where the plateau is narrow, locate a large notch or break in the western edge. There is a large cairn (big pile of rocks) and on a short, east facing wall is the bronze plate commemorating the 500 year anniversary of the climb of Mont Aiguille.

Getting There 

By car, it takes around an hour to get to the most popular trailhead at Richardière from Grenoble (60 kilometers south of Grenoble). Take the A480 out of Grenoble and continue on A51 (toll). Stay on the A51 for around 26 kilometers and at the roundabout, take the second exit onto the D1075 (N 75). After 14 kilometers, take a right on the D7 (don’t miss the cheese outlet!), then for 2.5 km and take another right on the D7B for another 2.5 km to Richardière.

To get to the trailhead, go past Richardière around 400 m (past a road on the left) and take the first major road which switchbacks sharply to the right. Either park near here or drive the rougher road up to the parking lot at 1200m (should be an information Kiosk).

Hike the well maintained trail for 3.5km to the Col de l’Aupet at 1653m. The trail is marked with yellow markers. From the Col, a trail heads straight towards Mont Aiguille. Near the steep west face, the trail braids depending on which route is on the menu.

The main trail will head towards the standard “Voie Normal” route, and, will tend to be less eroded and better footing. Once at the base, good trails traverse to the other routes.

Please remember there is no camping allowed at the parking area.

The Classics

Featured Route For Mont Aiguille

Tour des Gémeaux 5.9 PG13  International : France : ... : Mont Aiguille

A classic route up beautiful rock. Neat features. A variety of fine climbing, from face, to overhangs, stemming, cracks. After the standard voie normal route, this route is the easiest way to the summit of Mont Aiguille. It’s also a bonus that the climbing is very fun, and the rock is uncharacteristically very good (for Mont Aiguille). It is, however, a bit of a step up in difficulty from the normal route (voie normal at 3c to this route at 5c) and the protection in several places ...[more]   Browse More Classics in International

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Mont Aiguille summit plateau

Mont Aiguille 500 year anniversary summit plaque