| Vallon du Merlet
Vallon des Balmettes
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These
two parallel valleys rise up from
Saint Colomban des Villards. Quite frequented in winter by ski-mountaineering
enthusiasts, they see fewer visitors in summer. They are part of the Northern
Belledonne granite range. Access is via the Col du Glandon road from St Etienne
de Cuines. Stop halfway up in Saint Colomban. There are not too many trails
in this area and some routes will have pathless sections. IGN map 3433 OT Allevard.
The two valleys will be described together in a circular route that avoids the
long and boring climb up into the Merlet valley from St Alban.
Route
Leave the car on the forest road that leads up the slopes under Pic de Fremezan above St Colomban des Villards. Park in one of the last bends to the left (1741m on IGN). Take a well-marked path that soon crosses Torrent des Croix and goes up a grassy ridge before joining the Arvan-Villards GR path and its yellow-red marks. Turn right on to a descending traverse of the lower slopes of Grand Jarnalet. The path then continues down into the Merlet valley, to the north (Les Granges, 1752m). The path is level for a moment following the bottom of the valley, until it reaches the chalets de la Loze (small cupula stone). The route then veers left to climb the steep coomb that comes out at Col du Villonet (2457m, signpost). An almost level path links the latter col to Col des Balmettes (2438m). Below, in its rocky setting, you can see the Balmettes lake (2196m). The path circles north around the lake and goes down easily to the forest trail and the car. 900m of ascent, 4h. No difficulty.
Col du Merlet
On reaching the Chalets de
la Loze, keep to the right of the valley and climb up a path that rises in the
grass slopes under Pic du Merlet. Col du Merlet can be reached in 1h (2286m).
From the col, it is possible to walk on a steeper path that traverses north
and approaches Pic Nord du Merlet and a gap on its south ridge. Beautiful feeling
of isolation and nice views on the Allevard side of the massif.
Back to the map
From
Col du Villonet, walk west towards l'Aup du Pont. A very wild rocky coomb
leads towards the bottom
of the steep scree and dirt slopes that come out at the Brêches de la
Passoire. There is hard snow late in Spring in that very secluded place. It
is possible to go up l'Aup du Pont via its north ridge.
Grand
Jarnalet (2426m)
Situated between the Merlet and Balmettes valleys. In Premier Villard, drive up the long Forêt du Nant forest trail. In the third bend to the right, turn left on to another level trail that traverses towards the bottom of the Merlet coomb (1400m). Leave the car and walk up the trail that follows. Higher up, cross the stream and continue upward until the path comes out at Les Granges (1752m). Turn left and take the Arvan-Villards GR. The route climbs along patches of green alders and comes out on flat pasture ground (water). Turn right and walk straight up an easy gully before reaching the Balais plateau (1900m). Leave the GR path to your left and walk up a subsidiary coomb to your right. On pathless ground, the route slowly climbs towards Grand Jarnalet's east ridge. Stop at a gendarme under the summit. Nice 180° viewpoint on surrounding massifs. The summit itself is out of reach of the ordinary walker.