How to find the Grotte de Pincherins

First advice is to start in good time, I wouldn’t fancy the descent and return hike in the dark. Also, only to be attempted when the grass is dry and definitely not with snow on the ground. Park in La Plagne and take the path towards La Balme a Colon. At 1600m a faint path leaves the main path by a cairn, and traverses northwards, take this path. After about 700m you will cross the first of two gullies, marked with dashed blue lines on the IGN map. You can ascend this gully up a very steep and nerve-wracking steepening until you see a short fixed rope on the left. Taking this fixed rope and then continuing up to the left will bring you to the cave. Better is to continue to the second gully, crossing it near the top of the stones and then spot this tree. It used to have a sign on it (you can see the nail), when we were there the sign had gone and it had a red sling tied around it.

From the tree, climb up a few meters (left and back right), then head steeply up to the ridge with the red cross in the photo below. The photo on the right shows the 30m rope we used to secure our children for the ascent.

Once you attain the ridge, you will see a faint path leading up a rocky step. Then you go slightly right and there is the cave! There is space by the cave to gear up, but given the steepness of the ascent you might prefer to gear up by the tree and have cowstails ready.