Col de lIseran Travel Video Guide

Col de lIseran Travel Itinerary

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From Val d'Isere, both the D902 and the GR5 veer south from the river, climbing towards the Col de l'Iseran . Despite the dangers of weather and the arduous climb, the pass has been used for centuries, being by far the quickest route between the remote upper valleys of the Isere and Arc. The volume of traffic was too small to disturb the nature of the tiny communities that eked out an existence on the approaches, but twentieth-century roads and the development of winter sports have changed all that. Small mountain communities have metamorphosed into monster modern developments, catering to an upmarket ski crowd.

From October to June, the pass is usually blocked by snow. But in summer, being the highest pass in the Alps (2770m), it is one of the sights that tourists with cars feel they must see; consequently it's relatively easy to hitch. A word of warning, though: if you do try, don't do it in light summer clothing, especially on a cool cloudy day, as temperatures can still hover around freezing point and blizzards are not unknown.

The GR5 reaches its zenith at the Pointe des Lessieres , where on a clear day you have views

of the Italian side of Mont Blanc and the whole of the frontier chain of peaks. Whether you head back or continue on to Bonneval , the walk is a solid two and a half hours. If you continue south, a clear day will afford splendid views of the glaciers at the head of the Arc. As you descend along the Lenta stream through masses of anemones bloom in the stony ground, the riverbed winds through a desolate cirque, before dropping through a narrow defile towards the town.

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