Copyright: © 1998 - 2013 John Gardner
| A Walking Guide to the Massif de la Chartreuse |
Shopping for Books and Maps from Amazon
The following maps, books, and sundries are available directly from amazon.co.uk, and are made available here for your convenience. Other maps and books are available from the same source, but are not necessarily recommended by the author. Clicking on the picture will take you directly to the product page on the Amazon web site.
The author makes a (very!) small commission on items purchased from this page, which goes a little way towards funding the website.
Massif de la Chartreuse Nord gps 1:25,000 IGN map 3333 OT
This 1:25,000 map published by the Institut Géographique National covers the northern half of Chartreuse. This and the southern map are the only maps you'll need.
It covers an area from Chambéry in the north to St. Philbert (north of the col between St. Pierre d'Entremont and St. Pierre de Chartrese) in the south, and from the Isère in the east to les Echelles in the west. The mountain areas it covers includes the northern end of l'Aulp du Seuil, the northern half of the Grand Som, and all of Mont Granier, l'Alpe, and Mont Outheran.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Massif de la Chartreuse Nord gps 1:25,000 IGN map 3333 OT (all weather version)
This is the same as above, but is an all-weather version at a somewhat higher cost. They do last for ever, though.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Massif de la Chartreuse Sud gps 1:25,000 IGN map 3334 OT
This 1:25,000 map published by the Institut Géographique National covers the southern half of Chartreuse. This and the northern map are the only maps you'll need.
It covers an area from St. Philbert (north of the col between St. Pierre d'Entremont and St. Pierre de Chartrese) in the north to Grenoble in the south, and from the Isère in the east to Voreppe in the west. The mountain areas it covers includes most of l'Aulp du Seuil, the southern half of the Grand Som, and all of Dent de Crolles, Chamechaude, Charmant Som, and the Grande Sure.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Massif de la Chartreuse Sud gps 1:25,000 IGN map 3334 OT (all weather version)
This is the same as above, but is an all-weather version at a somewhat higher cost. They do last for ever, though.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Silva Expedition Compass
Without a compass, a map is useless. This is the best budget-priced general purpose compass for the hills, with a number of scales including 1:25000, a magnifying glass, and a good-sized base plate.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Randonnées en Chartreuse by Pascal Sombardier
This is a splendid little paperback which covers some twenty of the best, but not too extreme, walks in Chartreuse. Each walk is beautifully illustrated with a clear sketch map and some excellent photos. It is strongly recommended, and if you are going to buy but one local guidebook it should be this one. Bear in mind, however that it covers the same ground as the walks on this website, although avoiding the more exciting bits.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Chartreuse Secrète et Randonnées Sportives by Jo Perez
This is a glossy softback, rather expensively priced, describing forty circular walks in Chartreuse. I have strong reservations about some of the routes that the author selects, but they are complemented by a variety of interesting little essays on various aspects of the massif which makes it worth buying.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Chartreuse inédite : Itinéraires Insolites by Pascal Sombardier
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book which describes routes in the more remote and quieter areas of the massif, some of which were developed by the author. It is a book to inspire, and is a must for the book shelf.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Chartreuse - Vercors : Les randonnées du Vertige by Pascal Sombardier
Another beautifully written and illustrated book describing some of the hairier and more exposed walks in Chartreuse and the Vecors. Some of the walks cover the same ground as walks in this guide, and may be confidently tackled by the moderately competent walker, but others are distinctly harder.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
Alpine Flowers of Britain and Europe (Collins Field Guide) by C. Grey-Wilson
This is by far the best alpine flower book, and is a must for the rucksac when walking in Chartreuse. Unfortunately, it is no longer in print but good second hand copies can purchased at a reasonable price from Amazon.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
The New Amazon Kindle Electronic Book
Apart from the its orthodox use, the Kindle can also store and display PDF files, and is small enough to be carried in a rucksack or pocket. The bulk of this site is available as a Kindle-friendly PDF file, and Antoine Salvi's excellent guide book, is available in normal PDF format and hence accessible from the Kindle.
Click on the image to purchase from Amazon.
