
Col des Frettes
France, europe
N/A
2,386 m
extreme
Year-round
Col des Frettes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.386m (7,828ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The road is extreme. It’s gravel and follows the unpaved ski-lift service roads. The surface is rocky with lots of slippery gravel, but never ridiculously steep. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls.
Pic: Fred Marchadier.
http://www.savoie-mont-blanc.com/offre/fiche/panoramic-col-de-la-chal/717564
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Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,386 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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