How to get there:
A good starting location is the resort town of Montgenevre in France, very close to the
border with Italy. The trailhead is located at N44.93603, E6.73876, a dirt road forks uphill here.
People park along the paved road.
However, if based in Montgenevre (As I was), it is perfectly reasonable to just walk from your hotel.
Route description:
Follow the nice dirt road (closed to traffic) into the valley. There are a few minor variations.
Yellow trail signs saying Chaberton are located in several spots. This road will change into a good
trail before the final ascent into an upper valley basin.
You will see the base station of
a ski lift ahead. The trail forks right here and crosses the dry river, then starts ascending
the slope on your right. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Higher up, it crosses
the main drainage to the left side. The trail will gain the Col Chaberton, at about 2670 meter.
From here, the route continues on a very good
trail (used to build the summit fortifications more
than 100 years ago), that zig-zags up the slope and culminates
at the large, flat summit plateau.
This mountain was several meter higher before the Italian army built the military base up on the top.
Comments:
We arrived from Andorra on August 8th. Staying at hotel Chalet Blanc, it was an easy choice to
start out on foot directly from the hotel at 0900 after a nice breakfast.
After a nice initial walk towards the trailhead, I continued into and up the
valley with Chaberton towering
up on my right. I soon arrived at the upper part of the valley, then ascended right up to
the Col du Chaberton. From there, an easy ascent on a good trail to the summit. Arrival after 2.5
hours at 1130.
This is obviously a very popular climb. I certainly saw more than 100 people on the
trail. Familes with kids and dogs, young people as well as more senior.
i was quite surprised to see the 8 big turrets, a large military installation built by Italy
from 1898 to 1910.
I took a long rest, scrambled down to the base of the turrets. The middle one has an entrance via a few
steps on a vertical iron ladder. Inside is a metal staircase that brings you to the top, care is
needed as a few steps are broken. I climbed to the top of this turret to get a few more
pictures of this rather exceptional site.
Finally descending, I still met many people
coming uphill. The view across to Barre des Ecrins, still
very nice. I was back down in 1:45 at 1400.
