This hard and exciting climb is best climbed from Avise (777m), which is also the hardest alternative. The average gradient is not terrible up to Cérellaz, but it is known to be hard for the fact that every other stretch of the hairpinned road is like 15%, while the others are very moderatly steep. Then there is a long flat stretch and you should not take the road to Thomasset and Vedun as the road turns to gravel after Vedun (1517m). After Charbonnière you take the first road up the mountainside to Vens (1735m), from where a very narrow road continues and at the tiny crossroad you take left to a little lake where the asphalt ends. Go around the lake and after a short little climb you reach the pass after the ca. 550m good gravel stretch.

If you come down from Aosta, you can start the climb at St. Pierre (681m). This climb shares the same final stretch when it meets the road from Cérellaz, but is generally a more even and easier climb.