Costa Tantané, from Artaz
Access
From the motorway exit at Châtillon, take the Valtournenche road to Antey-Saint-André. After the tourist company chalet, turn right onto the road leading to La Magdeleine. Continue past the village to the hamlet of Artaz, where you leave your car.
Introduction
Little-known winter excursion with a splendid view of the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa chain.
Description
From the Artaz car park, walk between the houses for a few dozen metres to the first hairpin bend where you put on your skis. Climb up along wide meadows to the left with no obligatory path until you reach a col that leads to Chamois. In the case of very little snow, instead of starting from Artaz, take the road on the left just before the hamlet, at a hairpin bend, which leads towards Chamois. Follow it as far as possible and then cross to the right to reach the slopes below the pass. From the pass, continue to the right along the inter-country road until reaching the Granda Comuna alpine hut (2110m). Beyond the hut, continue along the wide slope that leads to the upper levels, from where the broad ridge of the peak is visible. Continue to the bottom of the plain and then head to the right in the direction of the Tantané pass. From the basin below the pass, head left over a rocky ridge and then cross a steep section again to the left (to be climbed carefully) to reach the wide rib, which is sometimes strewn with stones. Climb up the rib for the first part and then turn right and ascend the last wide slope. When you reach the ridge, follow the wide ridge to reach the summit in a few minutes, skis on your feet.