Le Catogne

Driving from Lake Geneva towards the Great Saint Bernard Pass, the Catogne inevitably catches your eye, a massive pyramid isolated by three deep valleys, almost more a massif than a mountain, blocking the direct way to Italy. Its steep grassy and forested slopes descend 1,700 meters into the Val d’Entremont to the east and the Dransetal to the north. The Durnand Valley to the west lies somewhat higher, which is why the Catogne is usually ascended from this side; the Col de Champex lies at just under 1,500 meters elevation. Although the ascent qualifies as a reasonable day route, the Catogne does not get as much attention as one would expect from such a viewpoint—perhaps because the jagged 4,000-meter peaks of the Valais Alps and the glaciated Mont-Blanc group steal the show.