Grotte à Carret via ferrata (Bauges, Savoie)

Duration : ½ day

France, Northern Alps

Level : very difficult

from 65 € / p. from 2 to 6 persons

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Description

Come and discover the spectacular via ferrata of the "Grotte à Carret" (Carret's cave), located in Savoie, above the village of Saint-Jean-d'Arvey in the Bauges massif.

This itinerary, reserved for experienced climbers, requires good physical qualities with vertiginous and athletic passages... All along the route which follows the cliffs of the Rocher de Charvettan, you will enjoy a breathtaking view on Chambéry and the Mont Granier.

A pleasant approach walk in the undergrowth brings you in about an hour to the Carret cave, the start of the via where the remains of the house of the eccentric archaeologist who lived there at the end of the 19th century can be found.

From inside the cave, the cable goes to the left, slightly uphill, to reach a pseudo-cave. Then follows the first big overhang, very physical and vertiginous, then a beautiful and still vertiginous crossing on large smooth slabs.

After a short cable bridge and a beam, the route arrives at the only rest area at the foot of the big crack. You can relax a little bit before climbing this crack, then cross the second beam and engage in the physical and overhanging section which leads to the very vertiginous Tibetan bridge of Charvettan, 40 meters long. Its crossing will leave you with unforgettable memories!

At its exit, the route goes across to the pendulum of the big roof and then offers an overhanging climb during which you have to think about how to best negotiate the use of hand and foot holds. A last short overhang brings you to the belvedere of the Charvettan rock, the end of the via ferrata, from where you can enjoy an exceptional panorama.

I also offer other attractive vertical routes, such as the "Bastille" urban via ferrata in Grenoble, the Sautet lake via ferrata near Corps, the Cascade via ferrata at l'Alpe du Grand Serre, the Roche Veyrand via ferrata in the Chartreuse massif or, on the same cliff of the Charvettan rock, the easy P'tchi via ferrata.

Program

  • Meet at the parking lot of La Doria, located in the hamlet of Les Déserts, above Saint-Jean-d'Arvey.
    It takes about 20 minutes to drive from Chambéry and one hour from Grenoble.
  • Approach walk of 45 minutes to reach the start of the via ferrata.
  • Duration of the course: about 3 hours.
  • Return walk of 30 minutes to find the car park.

The price includes

  • Supervision by the climbing instructor.
  • Loan of safety equipment necessary for the practice of the activity (harness, helmet, via ferrata lanyard with energy absorber).

The price does not include

  • Transport to the meeting point.
  • Personal insurance.
  • Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Next departures :

No scheduled departure, but you can contact me to book your dates.

Infos & Booking