In reply to 1philjones1:
Did it with my 17 year old son last week.
No crampons or axes needed though he used one walking pole for stability as he had never walked on snow before. Pretty dry glacier what’s left of it.
loads of rockfall but none on the low approach line we took. Lots of choss on the moraine approach then in the gully on descent. You wouldn’t want people scree running down the gully above you!
really pleasant day out and loads of time to get back to plan d’aiguille for the last lift. I think we were back in Cham by 2 having got the 5th cable car up. Ladders are great. Chimneys are gritstone hvd ( with a rucksack 😜)
we took one abseil down the nantillon side ( following a guide) then walked to the col, easy from there.