Mont Ventoux Summit from Chalet Reynard

The route from Chalet Reynard to the summit of Mont Ventoux climbs the bare, white limestone cone that dominates the Vaucluse department in Provence, France. Chalet Reynard sits on the D974 above Bédoin at roughly 1,430 m, and is reached by car from Avignon in about 1 hour 15 minutes, since no public transport serves the mountain. A parking area beside the chalet is free, and the chalet itself operates as a seasonal restaurant and shop. The hike covers about 6 km each way, a 12 km round trip, with around 450 m of ascent to the 1,910 m summit, and takes four to five hours including a rest at the top. Technically it is a moderate walk rather than a climb: the path follows broad stony tracks and footpaths that run close to the summit road, with no scrambling. The surface is loose limestone scree and frost-shattered rock, which is hard on ankles and slippery on the descent. The first section leaves the last stunted pines and enters open ground with no shade at all, so sun and wind exposure are constant. The Mistral can reach gale force on the ridge, and temperatures at the top are often 15 to 20 degrees lower than in Avignon. Landmarks include the memorial to cyclist Tom Simpson roughly a kilometre below the top, the summit weather and telecommunications tower with its red-and-white mast, and a viewpoint table that identifies the Alps, the Rhône valley and, on clear days, the Mediterranean. Walkers who feel the weather turning can use the road as a bail-out line, because the route never strays far from it, and a sensible turn-around is the Simpson memorial if clouds or wind build. There are no reliable natural water sources on the mountain, so all water must be carried, and the chalet is the last dependable place to refill before the climb. Cyclists share the road in summer, so walkers should keep to the footpath edge where possible. The upper road beyond the chalet is normally closed to vehicles in winter, and snow can remain on the summit into spring.