Col des Ecandies - Par le Val d'Arpette

Ascent

Go up to the Relais d’Arpette, (also possible to go up the ski piste coming down from the Breya lift, but then you have to redescend about 50m) to reach the open Arpette valley. Follow the bottom of the valley, initially easy angled, until it steepens as the vegetation dies out. Go up towards the col, which is visible for most of the route, bypassing Pt 1987m (foot of the Tête d’Arpette). Pass to the N of Pte 2344m to go up a little gully to the left which avoids the frontal moraine of the old glacier. Continue to the W to run obliquely into the large slope leading upto the col. If there is an avalanche danger, take the moraine directly, (steep) and avoid the side slopes. From the top of the moraine, contour to the left to go up the Combe des Ecandies on the left near the rocks and so avoid the snow slopes which are on the right.

Descent

By the same route. The descent line is easily seen from the col.

Easy at the start, steep if you take the moraine directly to avoid the neighbouring slope and also steep in the Combe des Ecandies. Avalanche prone. The Val d’Arpette faces NE and often has good snow because it does not get any sun in January.