Crou de Bleintse, from Plan Debat

Description

The tour can be done by ascending from the N ridge and descending from the SE or vice versa. From the car park, follow a path and shortcuts to the Letey hut. From the hut, an easy path leads to the Champillon pass, from where the North ridge begins. Alternatively, you can go up a small valley further to the left (tracks) that reaches the crest further up. The ridge is criss-crossed by traces that you sometimes have to look for behind some boulders or by passing from one slope to the other. Sometimes you have to use your hands, but if you follow the right path, there is never any exposure. Just before the summit, climb up a large boulder and then continue along easy rocks. This leads to the long summit (cairn), two posts indicate where you can see Etroubles. The panorama is spectacular, dominated by Mont Blanc and Grand Combin, plus Velan, Gelè, Grivola and the Morion chain with its dolomitic appearance. The SE ridge begins as an easy, wide grassy slope that narrows below. Bumps can be climbed over or around on both sides. Before the major one, a cairn indicates the remains of a small path that is soon lost, but which allows you to return via grassy slopes to the Letey or to descend directly to a saddle from which you can descend to the car park, skirting a wood with fresh springs. For those who want to do the round trip in the opposite direction, it is better to climb to this saddle, beyond which you pass some small rocks and proceed along the ridge in its entirety or by leaning on one of the two slopes. The north ridge is descended by spotting traces from above.