Arête des Bouquetins (Pic de Jallouvre) et traversée vers la Pointe Blanche

Approach

Several possibilities: 1 – Climb the “via ferrata de la Colombière”, then follow the return path to the start of the ridge, indicated by a large red paint mark. 2 – Climb the “Voie des Cristaux” which brings you to the return path next to the start of the ridge. 3 – From the Col de la Colombière follow the Pic du Jallouvre path, passing under a popular rock climbing venue. The path goes up left of the cwm and along the side of the Pic du Jallouvre. Follow this until you can join the return path from the via ferrata, (cables, red paint arrows, signs.) Follow the cables to the start of the ridge indicated by the large red paint mark.

Route

The way is well indicated with red paint marks. At about three quarters of the way up you come to a junction with a sign post indicating a hard and easy option. The easy option goes off to the left and is marked with red paint. If you choose the difficult option, there are no more markings but the route is self evident. Pass by a chimney with two bolts then take the best line, trying to avoid the worst of the loose rock, keeping in general to the side facing the Col du Rasoir. Finally you rejoin easier ground and the red markings. Follow the narrow ridge to the summit

Descent

Follow the well marked path down the W ridge until you can turn to the right to join a path which traverses the N side of the Pic de Jallouvre, (known as the Cravate, careful, this is N facing and can hold the snow for along time.) This path brings you to a narrow ridge leading to the Col de Rasoir. From the col one can descend the path to the Col de Colombière.

To continue up the Pointe Blanche :

From the Col de Rasoir follow the red markings to the summit of the Point Blanche, (one 3m section of grade 2.) Three options for the descent. 1 – Back the way you came to the col du Rasoir 2 – Descend to the small col “à Boué”, from the summit, go down the Sface for 40m, (red markings) then traverse to the left, leaving the red markings to find some cairns above a gully which overlooks the Lac de Peyre. Descend this gully bu some slabs on the right to reach a cave, (statue of the virgin and a cable,) continue down the gully and turn to the right to reach a col. Go down to the lake and then to the Col de la Colombière. 3 – Descend the S Face of the Pointe Blanche: frrom the summit follow the red marks du sommet suivre les marques rouges on the S face, a 30m section of grade 2 down climbing, to reach the rock climbing area of the Colombière. Follow the descent path from the climbs to the Col de la Colombière.