Trip Report : Pointe de lapaz and le Breveret

My last walking day in the Alps and as the day was so clear I decided to make it a long one. Le Breveret and its highest geocache were always on the agenda but I thought I would make it a bit more of a challenge.

Having been dropped off at the animal park above Les Houches I promptly follows a narrow track into the woods and had to fight back onto the main path not the best of starts. However once on the proper track it is fairly easy if long going initially in woodland then broken trees and finally on a bare hillside. Climbing is steady with stunning views of Mont Blanc before finally you find youself depositied at the Refuge de bel Lachat.

Choices now abound the obvious is to keep on up to the summit but never one for the obvious I headed west into the valley below the Pointe de lapaz before picking up an obvious track heading directly for the end of its ridge following it up and over the summit with its trig marker before dropping down to Aguilette des houches and back though the upland valley back to the refuge.

Not something to do on a bad day but in the bright sunshine it makes a very nice airy diversion on easy terrain with great views to the west.

This now leaves the push on to the main summit, there is of course a clear path all the way but that isn't much fun. Instead keep to the right of the track and climb two or three minor outliers before cutting back to the path just after pt 2293. That can be tricky especially if you stay high for too long but once back on the path its just grit your teeth and climb. Nothing difficult barely a hand required just good old fashioned up.

The summit is of course overcrowded with those that can afford the cable car but a short continuation on along the track to Planpraz everything quietens down and its soon walkers only. Great news as this is some of the most dramatic scenery of the day and the cable car riders are not close to it.

However this walk had one final sting in the tail for me on leaving Planpraz I started to encounter route closed due to falling rock signs and it soon became apparent that the whole of the slope down direct to Chamonix was a no go area. Instead you are pushed NE on the VTT route before heading east at the Chalet de chalanon and coming out at the NE end of town or as I did take advantage of your lift picking you up in la praz.

Full photoset from this walk can be found on Flickr here

Trip report : Midi l'Aiguille and la Mere de Glace

A damp day in a Swiss art gallery left me nice and fresh for this long walk out of Chamonix. Parking next to the cemetery (get there early) the usual climb up though the trees eventually opens out into the upland pasture.

First stop is le Chalet du plan l'aiguille before pushing on the the mid point cable car stop. From here the cloud was like a little yo-yo so having done the hard work and in hope rather than expectation I carried on to lac Bleu then across to the high point on the moraine above le glacier des pelereins.

Sadly the cloud never fully lifted so it was back to the masses at the cable car and onward across the landscape on le grande balcon nord over Signal forbes and its mass of cairns to look down on la mere de glace before following the railway back to the car

Trip report : Aguilette de Argentiere

After a few hard days I was looking for an easy session and a follow-up valley walk with the family so the Aguilette was an obvious choice.

Parking at Tre le Champ it is a simple uneventful walk up to on easy tracks to a lovely viewpoint of the Chamonix valley.

Out and back in a couple of hours, but for future reference a late afternoon walk would give better photos

Trip Report : Bec Du Lachet

The problem with this part of the Alps is that almost everything is as obvious as the Llanberis path on Snowdon not so this little gem. Parking at Le Planet pass into the woodlands and follow the signs for Peclerey. Stay with this track as it opens up and zigzags it way over the 1900m contour. Eventually the path makes a distinct turn to the left and straightens up but soon another clear but narrower path heads off right towards a gap on the ridge. Stick with this cross a single more dominant track and as the path narrows and steepens you move onto real mountain terrain. The path remains clear and you eventually come off the face of the mountainside onto an open ridge with views of both La Tour and Argentiere glaciers.
The route continues to climb and is now more Scotland then Wales with lots of small crags to play with finally at the turn point a further change leaves you in a mass of rocks that would not be out of place on Glyder Fach. From the high point 2572m head back about 200m before heading NW to pick up the steep ridge to Bec de la Cluy. This offers several small challenges but all can be turned or scrambled down with little problem.

From this point some care is needed sheep tracks do exist but they end abruptly and the mix of steep slope, mosses, and bilberry make for a descent which the Rhinogs would be proud of and your ankles will howl at asy you work your way back to the main path you left about 3hours before all be it 500m further east. From there the obvious circuit continues back to le planet.

Trip report : Glacier d'Argentiere

Needing to pick up some food and visit Chamonix I opted to make my first glacier visit of the trip. Ignoring le Grand Motes cable car left me a far from enjoyable hour alongside the main ski route down the mountainside, the only saving grace being the views across the valley. However eventually you leave the motorway and work up via a wooded track to a chalet. From here a easy track takes you to the glacier snout then a less distinct path heads up the morraine deposits before depositing you on the glacier itself. The return loop via the cable car station and a track directly down on a set of zigzags in dense forestry brings out nicely back to the campsite.

Trip Report: Croix de Fer

Does a long day out with five Alpine summits in two countries sound good to you? If it does then this long set of loops is for you. Starting off at La Tour lake the path up between the chair lift buildings and follows the walkers signs up to the Col de Balme. Paths are typically broad but care is needed to stay off the VTT routes.

From the col a broad vista into the Bernese Oberland opens up along with the easy Brecon Beacon like tracks cutting under two outer summits to col below the Croix de fer. Pack away the poles here as hands are needed on the final pull up to the summit but unless you go off path and keep to the pure ridgeline then in summer at least the warning signs have more bark than their bite. Sadly the path ends at the summit so retrace then cut N to the track the curves below you and across to the lower summit of Pnte du Van to see the full grandeur of the ridge(below right) you have looked down upon. Return to the col then up and over two further summits (l'Arolette and Tete de Balme) both rounded tops with extensive views before returning to the local motorways that head for the Col de Posettes and the pull up to L'Aiguette des Posettes a nice twisty path over open rocky outcrops.

Continuing briefly SW it is then a sharp steep descent back to the start in La Tour

Camp site review : Camping du Glacier, Argentiere

Forget Chamonix overcrowded and overrated Argentiere is a far better base and this site just on the Chamonix side of the villages is a little gem. Its not the flattest of sites but the soil is well draining and easy to peg into, there is a small play field with volleyball net and a table tennis table (bats free you just buy a ball).

The toilet blocks are at the entrance with separate toilets, showers/washing and washing up, and handwashing/toilets areas.

The site is also serviced by a grocers van, a morning visit from a baker and pizza van (good value) twice a week

Only the lack of a credit card payment option lets the site down a little. (please note five years o this may now be different)

Trip report : Mont de Vores

Wow what a few days the cloud came down on monday night and stayed down the rain started Tuesday afternoon and stopped this morning so one day in the tent one day in Albertville and a day getting soaked in Megeve and area meant I didn't get to see as much of the area as I wanted.

So imagine the frustration as while in the market in Megeve today the cloud lifted to reveal a layer of fresh snow on the tops I visited on Monday. Having finished the morning walk around the market (well worth the time with a full range of stalls) it was a simple call to ask the wife to drop me as high up on the route to la Cret du Midi as possible and see how far I could get.

Having pushed though the standard forest ascent I began to think I was back in Wales. The climb to la Cret Du Midi was a solid mix of grass and track but once up the route over Ban Rouge to Mont de Vores had the feel of the high Berwyns about it a feeling left unchanged by the return trip over the three unnamed tops on the opposite side of the valley.

Sadly 2000m was to be a couple of hundred short of the snowline but for a 5 hour afternoon circuit within walking distance of the camp site if was a great way to salvage a frustrating period.

Trip Report : Mont Joly

Weather forecast for the next three days is none to clever so I rejigged plans for the area and instead of walking back to the site I turned this into a circular on a long hot day.

Once again I took advantage of being dropped off at Le Planay and gained an extra 150m over the other lower options. From there it is a case of following the tracks up over mountain pasture to the main ridge beneath le Croix du Christ.

This of course makes a great breather stop at the half mark on the initial climb and also at the point that Mt Blanc appears for the first time

However while the view is great the hard work is still to come, passing the chalet the track steepens up the climb of the outlying Mont Geroux before easing before the final pull up to the main summit of Mt Joly complete with cairn and panorama.

The temptation to continue along the ridge is very strong at this point and at least four tops appear to be possible but I settled for only the first before heading back cutting across beneath the face of Mont Geroux before pushing on over Mont Joux and the attendance cable car terminals on Mont d'arbois back to Le planellet where I was due to be picked up.

Camp site review : Chantalouette, Praz sur Arly

Moving day and on to the second site of the trip. Chantalouette is a smaller site located right on the edge of the central part of the village off the main Megeve - Ugine road. It run by a very helpful man who was keen to practice his English and supplied a converter for our UK electric lead.

The site itself is a well draining slightly sloping field around a central building housing cubical facilities for washing and showers. Sinks are also fully contained within as it a drying line for clothes. Again a small play area is present.

The site si quiet and friendly and well worth a visit.

Trip Report : La Tournette

Too many of the routes on this range require the painful description return the way you came up so with a simple drop off at Les Pres Ronds (or even better Chalet de l'Aulp the road is ok) it is pleasing to continue and cross the range to be picked up in Montmin.

The undertaking is not however to be underestimated. Even from this high start there is still 3000ft of unrelenting uphill in front of you, initially on steep eroded grass but as you reach the Refuge that marks the end of the first 1000ft climbing the going gets rougher and rock soon dominates.

The route is not for the faint hearted as there are several easy scrambles with chained support of required the highest being very wet and slippery, definitely one for ascent not descent. After the last the ground eases a little until you are left with the final climb on chains and ladders up to the higher summit.

The descent to Montmin is a piece of cake in contrast as a gentle sloping contour path cuts to the right of the summit rock and follows a steady route along beneath the summit ridges before cutting down the slope at the col before you climb to Pointe de la Becccaz. At this point the path steepens and makes for the river valley which it then follows into the village which your path enters right next to the church where there is able parking.

Trip report : Cascade d'Angon

Yesterdays storms have broken and a damp morning in Annecey made way for a warm dry afternoon. With no hope of getting very high I took the chance to walk to these very pretty waterfalls. Starting in the village the paths are so well marked they need no description, other than to warn you that the metal barrier actually needs to be crossed to pick up the easy path to the falls.

Camp Site Review : La Lafonette, Angon

With the cloud, rain and thunder well and truly settled in its time to reflect on the camp site. La lafonette is one of a cluster of four sites on the lakeside at Angon. The site is flat and well drained with camping separated into four distinct fields all laid out with roads and separate pitch areas.

A toilet block is dominated by unisex cubicles for shower and toilet with an open mens loos as well. wash basins for face and washing up are open to the elements. there is also a basic childrens play area.

In simple summary it is a typical French campsite, what is not typical is the price which was almost twice what we were to pay elsewhere and to rub salt in they don't accept credit cards

Trip report : Dent de Lanfon

One bonus of a non walking spouse is the drop off and walk back to the campsite option. and this is a case in point. Starting above the village of Villards dessus not at the car park marked on IGN maps but about three quarters of mile before it (unless you have a 4x4) you are faced with a long steady climb up to the alpine meadow where the views of the summit ridge first open out to you.

For a short walk at this point you can go straight across the meadow and pick up the descent to Talloires however the challenge for the day was to pick off one of the tops visible (left). Since IGN kindly place a trig marker on the northern most summit this was my target.
Initially there are no problems the track is well defined crossing a loose boulder field as it cuts beneath the cliffs however as it turns the back former and becomes dotted on the map in degenerates into a mix of easy scrambles and loose friable soil slopes. Only as you reach the final col and a short 20m scramble to the top do you fully appreciate how much you have climbed. Sadly a walk along the ridge is only for the climbers as you soon hit a 40m high face blocking the way.

Retracing your route to the boulder field it is then possible to pick out a very indistinct path on the ground that cuts beneath the cliffs and comes out at the col just south of pnts sud.

From here a well trodden path zig zags its way down to the geocache at Ermitage St Germain and then on to Talloires.