Rocktype UNKNOWN
Altitude 2222m a.s.l
Faces N

Hill features

A superb incisor of a mountain with a 2,222m summit and great (and long) routes on its southern and eastern flanks. In the high season, the routes here are quite popular; you won't be alone if you pick a sunny summer weekend for your ascent.

The Dent is a big mountain and should be treated as such. Many of the routes are long and arduous undertakings - make sure you are suitably equipped for the weather turning against you. Also, don't underestimate the time required to get from the top of the technical climbing to the top of the summit and back to the car. The Dent is often snowbound in the winter, and the prime season is May to September. In high summer, afternoon thunderstorms are a possibility. If you get caught in a storm high on the face, retreat by abseil may not be a safe option, even though the belays are equipped, so keep an eye on the forecast in the days before your planned ascent.

Good topo here.

Approach notes

South and Southeast Faces - Follow the main road through the centre of Ax towards Andorra, but where this jigs hard right to cross the river, turn left onto a narrow road - the D22. Follow this for 5km to Orlu, then drive through Orlu, past a hydro-power-plant to a left turn just before the Forges d'Orlu and the Wolf Sanctuary. Follow the narrow road for just less than 2.5km to a cattlegrid (passage Canadien) with restricted parking just before it (for Le Pilier Sud). 400m further on is an extensive parking area (climber only!) for the Southeast Face.

East Face - From the centre of Ax, follow the D613 east as it climbs into the hills. After 3.6km turn right onto the D25 and follow this for 3.5km to the campsite at La Forge. Turn into the entrance of the campsite then follow the track as it loops back along the southern side of the lake then up into the hills (quite rough in places) to reach a roundabout at the end of the forest track - this is 6km from the camping at La Forge.