Climbing Testa del Rutor

Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise is a veritable cornucopia of ideas for those in search of new experiences.

It’s only natural, then, that the destination should be the ideal playground for your first glacier hike to conquer the emblematic Tête du Ruitor (Testa del Rutor) summit at 3486m, just over the border from Italy.

Stage 1: the Ruitor refuge

Accessible from the magnificent Sassière plateau, where the Refuge du Ruitor is located, your quest for the summit will be an adventure in the grandest sense of the word. Like a seasoned mountaineer, you’ll spend the night in the refuge to acclimatize to the altitude (2030m) and prepare for the next day’s ascent in the company of your guide.

How do I get to the refuge?
On leaving Sainte-Foy chef-lieu, turn left towards the village of La Mazure. Cross La Mazure towards the Pierre Giret parking lot.
1. Start on the path after the Savonne bridge. This is an old Napoleonic path. Follow it up to the Jourdan plateau, where it overlooks the torrent.
2. Here, take the right-hand path. After about 1/4 hour, you’ll reach the track leading up to the refuge. Follow it for 600 m.
3. Take the path that leads to the Vacherie d’en Haut (at the end of the flat). Don’t cross the stream, but take the small path on your right. It joins the track below the Saint Pierre chapel, which can be seen on the right, at the entrance to the Sassière plateau.
4. Then follow the road across this magnificent plateau.
  The refuge is located in the center of the plateau.
Directions from the Pierre Giret parking lot to the Refuge du Ruitor :
- Distance: 2.7km
- Elevation gain: +250m
- Time: 50 min.

Stage 2: Climbing to the summit

After waking up in the early hours of the morning, you leave the refuge along the Saint-Claude torrent before branching off 200m higher up onto the normal route that follows the magnificent white expanse of the Grand glacier, an ideal adventure terrain for a first experience of glacier trekking.

Accompanied by your guide and with good stamina (approx. 1500m D+), the technical level of this climb is suitable for beginners to mountaineering. At the end of this long and magnificent ascent, you’ll find yourself standing beside the Madonna, who guards the summit unperturbed at all times, and watches as you do over the immensity of the wild and majestic mountains that surround you.

After a few well-deserved moments of contemplation, it’s time to head back down to civilization via the same route.

Practical info
The itinerary and duration of the climb will be determined by your guide.
Allow around 1500m of D+ for 1800m of D- (return to the Pierre Giret parking lot).
Tarentaise Tours, specialists in outdoor activities and holidays in the Tarentaise region, propose this ascent:
You can contact them on +33 (0)6 18 98 86 46 and visit their website http://www.tarentaise-tours.com
Our advice
To preserve the exceptional beauty of these landscapes and preserve biodiversity, please respect the area and pick up your garbage.
Advice from Jean-Noël GAIDET, mountain guide
We strongly recommend that you plan your ascent before July 10 for a safe and enjoyable experience.