Copyright: © 1998 - 2008 John Gardner
| A Walking Guide to the Massif de la Chartreuse |
Dent de Crolles - A Visit to the Grotte Chevalier
| Starting point: Col du Coq | Difficulty: 3 | Ascent: 250 m | Time: 4 hrs | Quality: *** |
This expedition is for the young at heart, and the agile, and has as its target the inner depths of the spectacular grotte Chevalier. Chevalier was the leader of the team that made the main explorations of the Dent de Crolles caves during the war. The cave that is named after him was always obviously very much part of the main cave system, but was only recently connect to it. The time is for the ascent and descent, and allows for a full exploration of the cave.
This half day expedition starts with an exciting traverse under the summit cliffs of the Dent de Crolles, and has as its climax, a trip deep into the depths of the mountain.
The route to the cave is exposed, and should be avoided if you feel uncomfortable in such conditions. The cave is fairly long, but safe provided a few basic precautions are taken. A minimum of three people should descend, one of whom should be experienced in caving, and all of whom should be equipped with some head protection (a balaclava will do), a warm jersey, and most importantly, a head lamp (preferably of the Petzl variety), and at least one spare torch. Unlike most caves, there is no risk of getting muddy or wet. It is also useful to take some fluid, as such dry caves can be very dehydrating.
The Chevalier is located immediately under the summit cliffs, in the eastern face (map). Park at the top of the col du Coq (1434 m), and follow a path through the woods towards the Dent de Crolles (it divides after a few metres - keep to the right). This take you onto the pastures beneath the impressive summit cliffs, which are are a riot of colour in the spring. Follow the track up to the col des Ayes (1538 m), reached some 20 minutes after leaving the car.
¹ From here follow the zigzags up the pastures, ignoring the turn off to the Trou du Glaz, along the path which leads to the Pas de l'Oeille. After climbing about 150 metres, the path crosses a shallow scree gully. Instead of following the main path across this, descend slightly as you cross, and you will meet a lower path. This path crosses the pasture, and then finds a thin line between the summit cliffs and the steep valley below. The route is obvious, but exposed, although some of it is equipped with cables. The most impressive section is where the path rounds the nose of the cliff, where you will be traversing on shale ledges. You should listen out for stones falling from the cliffs, all along this path. They do give fair warning by whistling at you during their descent.
From the nose, follow the path round for a couple of hundred metres. The Chevalier is on a platform 30 metres or so above the traverse, and there is no distinct path to it - just worn scree and vegetation.
The platform is a perfect place for a picnic, with excellent views into the valley below, and the Belledonne hills opposite. There are two caves on the platform. The most obvious is on the left hand side, facing the cliff. This is the grotte Annette, named after Annette Bouchacourte, one of Chevalier's team who was killed in a skiing accident. A popular expedition for experienced cavers is the traverse between the Trou du Glaz and the Annette. However, be warned: the Annette should be avoided for casual exploration, as a scree funnel at the end of the entrance chamber is liable to slumping, and the route beyond is not straight forward, and becomes somewhat technical.
The Chevalier is at the other end of the platform, and is not so immediately obvious. Parties without an experienced caver, and without the equipment itemised above should stop here, and enjoy their picnic. Others may like to take the opportunity to have a look in the cave.
The entrance descends steeply down loose frost-shattered scree, and care should be taken not to bang your head. However, the steep entrance slope soon debouches into the main passage proper. This starts with the generous dimensions of about 4 metres wide, by about the same high, but a couple of hundred metres in, the passage becomes overwhelmingly huge - twenty metres wide, by 10 metres high. Traversing this passage is slow, having to negotiate large blocks that have fallen in from the roof, and it drops fairly steadily. It continues thus for almost a kilometre into the heart of the mountain, reaching a depth of 170 metres below the entrance, until it somewhat anticlimactically finishes in a blank wall. By this time you have traversed about a third of the distance to the Guiers Mort at the head of the Perquelin valley.
Unfortunately, the cave is totally devoid of stalagmitic decoration, but early in the season, impressive ice formations may be found.
The journey out is somewhat hot and tiring; it can also be problematical. What you don't tend to notice on the way in are two side passages - one half way in, and one a couple of hundred metres from the entrance, both being on the right as you descend. The problem with both is that it is all too easy to enter them by mistake on the way out, which can lead to some disconcerting moments. The mistake is more likely to made in the first. This is where the passage is at its widest, about 40 metres, and you tend to lose all touch with the right hand wall. You will soon realise your mistake when the passage becomes smaller than you remember. Don't worry - simply retrace your steps back to the main passage, and turn left.
You can also make the same mistake nearer the entrance, but again just retrace your steps. Towards the entrance, simply climb the boulders and the scree, and you will soon reach welcome daylight having descended into the heart of the mountain.
¹ I am grateful to Mike Hale for passing on the following information:
The traverse beneath the summit cliffs of the Dent de Crolles towards the Grotte Annette that you describe seems to have fallen into disuse in favour of a path 50m lower down the hillside. The lower path is a more logical route on the return and is less exposed than the upper one. It is now more worn and clearer to find but there is no security cable but does not need one and a cairn is developing at the start. The upper path is growing over and it is only the presence of the cable that gives confidence that one is on the correct path. The cable has become quite frayed at the far end belay. To return along the upper path requires keeping high on fading steps to find the correct level.