Rocher des Enclaves (par le col du Sallestet)

The conditions in the Beaufortain region are extremely dangerous as the avalanche risk is level 3 marked, but in recent days it has been at level 4. On Tuesday (this outing is done on Saturday) about 30-40 cm of new snow fell on a frozen layer, which generated numerous avalanches in the area. It should be added that temperatures have been high (isotherm at 3000m) and the snow has been getting wet. So, we decided not to take any risks at any time and look for outings without exposure or too much slope.

We choose a circular route that will take us to crown one of the most popular peaks in the area, the Rocher des Enclaves (2,466m). Thanks to the snow at low altitudes, we can make a circular route that will take us to enjoy a solitary day in a dreamy valley.

The starting point is the Belleville car park (1,200m) of the Les Contamines/Hauteluce ski resort. We start a steep climb up a track (we gain 280M D+) quite quickly, and when we reach 1480m, we divert towards the Châtelets, where we will start our circular route. We find that everyone is climbing our descent itinerary to the summit of the Rocher des Enclaves, which is also a very good option. A long and gradual climb to the summit where there is also no risk of avalanches.

We end up in a forest where we progress without major difficulties until we reach the Lac de la Girotte dam. Once we have passed the dam (at around 1800m), a solitary and extremely beautiful valley appears before us that we will have to cross to reach the Coll du Sallestet (2111m). We enjoy skiing down the Plan de la Mouille thanks to the perfect snow conditions, and its hills allow us to gradually advance through dreamlike landscapes. We take the opportunity to discover new corners and gather ideas for a future skiing trip in this area, such as the Dôme de la Girotte (1926m) or Montagne d'Outray (2346m).

When we reach the Coll du Sallestet (2111m), we take a break to eat while admiring the valley that we have left behind. It is time to start the final ascent to the summit. We begin a climb up a slope where we must check its stability, and from there we start gaining altitude to reach the top. The first section from the pass requires us to make some turns due to the steepness of the slope, but then we continue with the hills that take us to the summit.

The Rocher des Enclaves is a flat and wide summit from which one can enjoy 360º views of the Beaufortain. The anticyclone that has been present in the region since Wednesday allows us to have a peaceful lunch at the summit while admiring the views. There is no wind blowing and the sun is shining. Before us, we have the imposing Mont Blanc, but also other peaks such as Rocher du Vent (2360m), Pierra Menta (2714m) or Roche Parstire (2108m) that we summited the day before.

We start a very long descent through a mix of spring snow and powder that is very easy to ski until we reach the slopes. We only have to take off our skis for the last 200 meters before reaching the slopes.

The day doesn't end here as we decide to visit the small town of Hauteluce where we discover the local bakery Les Croës du Beaufortain Hauteluce, perfect for replenishing our energy. Homemade or locally sourced products (delicious honey from local beekeepers) with very pleasant friendliness.

In summary, Rocher des Enclaves is a very beautiful viewpoint summit ideal for days when the risk of avalanches is high. If you can do the circular route, we strongly recommend it because the ascent is gradual and takes you through a very solitary and rarely visited valley.