The new staircase from the summit of Les Grands Montets is ready to be used this winter 2016/2017!
A new staircase replaces the old staircase that was built in the 90’s.
The new staircase from the top cable car station of the Grands Montets (3295 m) is open from Friday 9 December 2016. The staircase allows users to access the Col des Montets from the summit station of the Grands Montets cable car located below the Aiguille Verte.
The construction & installation of the staircase was performed by “Accro-BPT” & “Joly & Philippe”.
About €520,000 has been invested to optimize the comfort of customers. The new staircase has been constructed above the old staircase, for operational and geotechnical reasons.
Skiers will no longer cross the Great bistro terrace to reach the staircase down to the snow.
The new staircase provides a significant increase in safety, it is longer with 213 steps and a total surface area of 165 m² including a dozen intermediate landings. The major safety feature is that the drop per step has been significantly reduced to a normal step height.
The new step path follows a route through and over the rock of the Grands Montets, so it is sympathetic with the visual aspect of the mountain and integrates into the structure of the natural environment.
The new steps are not fixed to the vertical securing posts so that the steps may move in relation with the snow pack.
