Pic de Jallouvre (Col de la Colombière) · Aravis · France
Bail not documentedBolting confidence: high
A long, gentle climb up the slabs and runnels of the Jallouvre's south-east flank, like the neighbouring Voie des Cristaux but with more real climbing. Fifteen short-lived pitches are broken by three or four walking links; the moves of grade 5 are brief and well protected. A good place to practise multipitch routines.
The route
Les Miss climbs 400 m of easy-angled limestone above the Col de la Colombière road, a few minutes from the car. The lower third is easy slab; the climbing becomes interesting from pitch 7, with steps, a wide chimney, a steep juggy wall and one short 5c slab. Between the tiers you walk across grass, following small blue plaques marked 'Les Miss'. It ends beside the descent path of the Jallouvre via ferrata, and strong parties continue up the Arête des Bouquetins to the summit. Allow about 5 hours if you belay every pitch.
The climbing
| Pitch | Grade | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 4c | 45 m | Straight up. Stones can fall onto the belayer. |
| P2 | 3b | 45 m | Slab. |
| P3 | 2c | 20 m | A walking link left to the foot of a small pillar (the English description grades it 2c). |
| P4 | 4b | 50 m | Climb the pillar and continue straight above to a belay on one bolt or built among small blocks on easy ground. Then walk straight up for about 100 m, leave the track of the Voie des Cristaux on the right and go clearly left through grass and rocks for 50 m, no more, to a big white slab and a blue plaque. |
| P5 | 4a | 45 m | Very easy-angled slab, then two steps in succession, the second a little bigger. |
| P6 | 3c | 45 m | Long easy-angled slab. |
| P7 | 5b | – | Climb the step, then a long slab traverse left to the next step. The interesting climbing starts here. |
| P8 | 5b | – | A wide chimney, then a long slab. |
| P9 | 5a+ | – | A fine wall, steep at first on good holds, then slab to the next step. |
| P10 | 5c | – | A step, then a fractured slab: the technical crux, short and well protected. |
| P11 | 4a | 16 m | A short pitch on an easy-angled but smooth slab. A July 2026 party reported a loose flake about 40 cm wide and 1.5 m high to the right of the second bolt and told the guides' office. |
| P12 | 5a | 46 m | Slab, then a step on the left. Afterwards cross grassy terraces horizontally right (one bolt in a piece of slab) to a fine slab 8 m from its right edge and a blue plaque; the Voie des Cristaux is close by on the right. |
| P13 | 5b | – | A fine slab that steepens slightly, trending left. |
| P14 | 5b | – | Right of the belay, an awkward chimney for a few metres, then friction to a terrace with a juniper. It is short; you can continue by walking right and climbing a small slab with one bolt to the foot of a vague spur and a blue plaque. |
| P15 | 5b | 50 m | The foot of the spur is very steep but well protected, with a reachy first move, then it lies back. The start can be avoided on the left at 4c. |
Getting there
The Jallouvre routes start from a small quarry car park two hairpins below the Col de la Colombière on its Le Grand-Bornand (Le Chinaillon) side; it is more convenient than the car park at the col, which is often full in summer. A shuttle runs from Le Grand-Bornand to Le Chinaillon, from where a path or the road climbs to the col. The col road is closed in winter.
About 10 min; a 2026 party took 3 to 5 min. From the corner of the quarry car park follow a slanting track left up the scree and then grass. The start is left of a cave with a big square overhang, in a small recess at the top of a grassy hump that you pass on the left, and is marked by a small blue plaque 'Les Miss', about 50 m left of the Voie des Cristaux.
Loading map
The point marks the crag, not the exact start of the route.
Parking
Col de la Colombière (camptocamp waypoint 135395); the quarry car park used for the routes is two hairpins below on the Grand-Bornand side
Point from camptocamp waypoint 38260 (Pic de Jallouvre summit); the route starts on the south-east flank above the quarry car park
Contains the route point and parking. Opens in most mapping apps and GPS watches.
Points are compiled from published sources, with the precision stated above. They were not surveyed on the ground: check them against a current topo.
Coordinates: 45.99619, 6.45340 (crag) · Parking: 45.99222, 6.47556
Getting down
The descent path of the via ferrata passes 2 m from the last belay. Follow it to the right, then take the Jallouvre path back to the car park, about 45 min. The cable on the path is usually taken down for the winter at the end of October.
Retreat
Bail not documented
No source describes a retreat. The route is broken by walking terraces, and the neighbouring Voie des Cristaux has a path to the col from its mid-height terrace, but nothing confirms the same for Les Miss. The belays are bolted but unlinked and without abseil hardware.
Partly inferred from the route facts
Safety
Sun and weather
South-east facing between 1550 and 2000 m, in the sun from the morning and very hot in a heatwave, although one July party found it cooler than the valley. It dries fast: it was completely dry the morning after heavy rain in August 2026. The moves of grade 5 are becoming polished.
Sun on the wall · SE-facing
Working out the sunlit hours for this month.
Sun on the wallDaylight, wall in shade● Usual season
Estimated from the wall's aspect only. Ignores surrounding terrain, gullies and the wall's exact shape. Clock times are local to the wall (Central European time), for the 15th of each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May (usual season) | Jun (usual season) | Jul (usual season) | Aug (usual season) | Sep (usual season) | Oct (usual season) | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily high °C | −7 | −5 | −2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 5 | −2 | −6 |
| Mean daily low °C | −16 | −15 | −12 | −8 | −4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | −1 | −5 | −11 | −15 |
| Rain days 1 mm or more | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
● marks the usual climbing season. Averages for 1991-2020 at about 2371 m. Area climate from Open-Meteo reanalysis. Temperatures are adjusted to the height of the crag; rain comes from a grid cell of about 10 to 25 km, and summer highs on sea cliffs can read a few degrees low. The wall and valley can differ. Data: Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0.
What to carry
A 50 m rope, 11 quickdraws and slings to link the belay bolts, which are not chained. A few extra draws let you link the easy pitches. Helmet.
Derived from the route data; check it against a current topo
From climbers
Reader reports are not being collected yet. Until they are, check a current topo and the local club or guidebook publisher for recent changes to Les Miss.
Worth knowing
Open questions
Provenance
Same area
France · Aravis
An introduction to mountain multipitch that tops out right under the summit cross of the highest Aravis peak. Grippy fluted limestone is linked by cairned walking sections, and the last pitches are the best.
5b+11 pitches400 m
France · Aravis
Sixteen pitches of easy slabs and water-worn runnels above the Col de la Colombière, on the border between scrambling, climbing and mountaineering. Nothing is harder than 4b and most of it is grade 3, on sculpted, grippy limestone among ibex and edelweiss. Many parties carry on up the Arête des Bouquetins to the summit for a very long day.
4b16 pitches400 m
France · Aravis
A ten-pitch line to the summit of the Pointe Percée, the high point of the Aravis, following green hangers up the cool north-west face. Seven long pitches, mostly easy with a 6a+ wall, reach the notch of the Arête du Doigt; three independent pitches finish it, including a memorable slab traverse of 6b+ that can be aided on the bolts.
6b+10 pitches400 m
Read the cautions
France · Aravis
The classic easy ridge of the Aravis: three bolted slab and chimney pitches, then a long, airy limestone crest with Mont Blanc in view all the way. Most of it is grade 3 and is often climbed moving together. The steep scree of the approach and descent is the hard part of the day.
4c13 pitches300 m
Read the cautions
Around 5c · about 15 pitches
France · La Bérarde (Écrins)
The longest route on the Tête de la Maye at this grade and by far the most popular: fourteen pitches, sustained at 5b with three pitches of 5c. Steep steps, slabs, a roof, a layback crack on a pillar and a few grass ledges. The fives feel honest and only one 5b move is obligatory.
5c14 pitches400 m
Italy · Arco & Valle del Sarca
This is the archetypal long, easy Arco slab, first climbed in 1971. It wanders up the lower bands and then improves into a superb water-worn chimney system in the upper half. It is very polished and very busy, so start early. Original grade 6- UIAA per bergsteigen.com; gulliver gives 5c max.
5c16 pitches400 m
Read the cautions
Spain · Riglos & Agüero (Mallos)
A long beginner's big route on good conglomerate at a moderate angle. Pitches can be linked in pairs with a 60 m rope. A four-pitch headwall with a couple of panzas finishes high above the Gállego valley.
5c14 pitches375 m
France · Ailefroide
A long, sunny outing up a series of granite steps, consistently in the 5th grade, finishing with a great view over La Draye. Grassy ramps separate the tiers, so the climbing never feels exposed.
5c14 pitches450 m
Compiled from published sources and last verified October 2026. Bolts, anchors and access change. Climbing is dangerous and you are responsible for your own decisions: check a current topo and read the disclaimer.