History of the club: media from 2000 to 2022 rediscovered! To see in the gazetteGo to info

Saturday 2 May: Grand-Est regional meeting at Col du HaagGo to info

Bulletin de l'Amicale des Cyclos Cardiaques N° 166Go to info

Commemorative gathering at the Alsace balloon: presentation and new articlesGo to info

The Col du Jandri

Text and photo credits by René Poty

The Jandri pass (3150 m FR-38-3151) is one of the few passes in the Alps above 3000m that can be reached by bike via a wide R1-2 track. It is located in the Deux-Alpes ski area, so you have to make do with the many ski lifts that criss-cross the landscape and enjoy the superb views in the distance.
Finally, climbing to an altitude of 3150 m to rub shoulders with the Mont-de-Lans glacier is a pleasure not to be missed. Watch out for the difference in altitude!

  • From Le Bourg-d'Oisans: 2734 m (a record for an ascent in the Alps?)
  • From Lac du Chambon: 2107 m
  • From Les Deux-Alpes (Col de l'Alpe FR-38-1652): 1500 m

The ascent on a track (R1) begins at the Alpe du Mont-de-Lans (photo 1). Wide switchbacks lead up to a ridge at 2189 m altitude (restaurant and cable car station). Throughout the ascent, the view of the Deux-Alpes is magnificent, with the Oisans peaks and their sparkling glaciers in the background.

Photo 1 : Les Deux-Alpes with the Oisans peaks in the background, seen from
the Jandri trail (you can see this trail in the bottom left-hand corner of the photo)

The slope becomes a little less steep in the Combe du Thuit. The trail runs alongside the small Lac du Plan, then seven switchbacks (photo 2) take you up to the 2578 m level of the Jandri Express station, the cable car that takes summer skiers to the top of the pass. A short round trip to the left takes you to the Col des Gourses (FR-38-2550b).

Photo 2: The Jandri trail: twists and turns above the «Grand Plan du Sautet».
On the right, in the background, you can see the track that climbs up to the plateau.
d'Emparis from Besse. On the left, the Grandes Rousses glaciers.

The Jandri trail twists and turns upwards, often rocky, dusty and steep, sometimes requiring you to walk. This is a real high-mountain world, very mineral, with rocks battered by glacial erosion (photos 3-4). A few small lakes glisten in the sunlight before the final twists and turns, which leave you breathless (because of the altitude!). .

Photo 3: The last hairpin bends of the Jandri at around 3000m altitude.
In the background, the peaks of the Ecrins National Park.
Photo 4: Altitude 3170m, the track is still suitable for cycling (R1-2)
whereas TOP25 3336ET indicates a path.

The track crosses the 3170 m mark (photo 5), two hundred metres further on. Below is the Jandri pass. It's not a deserted place! This is where the cable car unloads its skiers who have come to enjoy the snow on the Mont-de-Lans glacier in the middle of August, and a high-altitude restaurant churns out meal trays...

Photo 5: Beyond that, only one hope... the helicopter!

On the return journey (which is entirely cycleable), you can leave the track at the level of Lac de Serre-Palas, and cross a rocky area (HS 3) on sight to reach the Grand Creux gap (2804m). FR-38-2810b) under a ski lift. Then descend below the ski lift (HS 2-3) to take a wide track on the left (R1-2) and reach the Entre les Têtes pass (2696 m FR-38-2680). A total of four passes over 2000 m. This route is described in TOPO 1 page 28.