Col de l'Iseran
France > Alps > Vanoise > Col de l'Iseran
From Val d'Isère, both the D902 and the GR5 veer south from the river, climbing towards the Col de l'Iseran. Despite the dangers of weather and the arduous climb, the pass has been used for centuries, being by far the quickest route between the remote upper valleys of the Isère and Arc. The volume of traffic was too small to disturb the nature of the tiny communities that eked out an existence on the approaches, but twentieth-century roads and the development of winter sports have changed all that. Small mountain communities have metamorphosed into monster modern developments, catering to an upmarket ski crowd.From October to June, the pass is usually blocked by snow, but in summer, being the highest pass in the Alps (2770m), it's a must-see sight for tourists with cars; consequently it's relatively easy to hitch if you don't have your own transport. The GR5 reaches its zenith at the Pointe des Lessières, where on a clear day you have views of the Italian side of Mont Blanc and the whole of the frontier chain of peaks. Whether you head back or continue on to Bonneval, the walk is a solid two-and-a-half hours. If you continue south, a clear day will afford splendid views of the glaciers at the head of the Arc. As you descend along the Lenta stream through masses of anemones blooming in the stony ground, the riverbed winds through a desolate cirque, before dropping through a narrow defile towards the town.
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