Charmant Som (1867m) is a renowned snowkite spot in Chartreuse, only 20 minutes from Grenoble. The riding area is on the plateau around the Auberge du Charmant Som (~1700m), offering great spaces for cruising.
Easy access from Col de Porte via the snow-covered road/track (4 km, 320m elevation gain). Iconic spot for Grenoble locals, often the first outing of the season with the first snowfalls.
Onekite – Isère-based kitesurfing, snowkite and powerkite association. Many members regularly ride Charmant Som.
FFVL – French Free Flight Federation
The spot works mainly with South wind, dominant in Chartreuse. Sessions possible with 10-12 knots.
Riding area: plateau and alpine meadows around the Auberge du Charmant Som, up to the summit (1867m).
Freeride (Ski touring access)
1698m
Open all year round
Prairie parking at Col de Porte (1326m). From Grenoble, head to Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse then Col de Porte. First road on the left 300m after the pass on the descent.
Warning: very busy on weekends!
Cohabitation: very busy spot with snowshoe hikers, cross-country skiers, sledders, fat bikes. Respect other users.
Karst terrain: rocks possible with low snow cover, summits often stripped bare by wind.
Avalanches: slabs possible on North faces below ridges with South wind.
Charmant Som works mainly in south wind, the dominant wind direction in Chartreuse. South-west is also very common and often stronger.
South / south-west wind: main orientation. Rideable from 10-12 knots. In sustained south-west wind (20-30 knots), watch out for wind slabs forming on north-facing slopes below the ridges.
Plateau effect: the area around the Auberge (1,700 m) is open and catches wind well. The summit plateau (1,867 m) is often windier. Wind can be turbulent at the forest edge on the way up from Col de Porte.
Iconic spot for Grenoble riders, often the first session of the season as soon as the first autumn snow falls, thanks to its proximity (20 min from Grenoble) and favourable exposure to the prevailing wind.
Alpine terrain with meadows and forests. Gentle to moderate slopes around the Auberge, more technical towards the summit.
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Currently, there is no weather station at this spot. If you want to change this, help us fund one: Weather Station Project
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