Belledonne Rock Climbing

The Chaine de Belledonne mountain group tends to have a wild feel, because it's generally not well-penetrated by roads, and the summits are higher than the other "pre-Alpes" groups, with several just under 3000 meters, and many in the range of 2500-3000 meters. So it's the highest mountain group in close range of the Northern Alps cities of Grenoble and Chambery and Albertville.

Much of its rock is gneiss, which is generally hard rock, and can have interesting climbing sequences, but the labor needed for approach prevents them from being popular. And somehow the peaks do not have sufficiently dramatic shapes to get attention when surrounded by so many other dramatic peaks.

Its highest summit is the Grand Pic de Belledonne, but its normal route is not so interesting and has a long approach, so climbers tend to be more intrigued by the objective of doing a traverse of its three peaks -- a fairly committing and remote undertaking.

Another target for high traverses is the Aiguilles de l'Argentiere, which have the advantage of a shorter summer approach from the Col du Glandon road.

Another ridge traverse is the Pic du Pin, which has some interesting fun climbing at less-high altitude, and is not so committing.