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Simply Savoie

Guided walking – snowshoeing – via ferrata in the French Alps with Mark Tennent

Aravis

Vultures and via ferrata in Haute Savoie

After meeting up in Albertville and decision made it was off to the Col des Aravis and the via ferrata Yves Pollet-Villard on the cliffs overlooking the col.

Arrving at the foot of the route after about 20 minutes we geared up.? There was a large group that seemed to comprise several families with young children the youngest probably around 8 years old.? They set off before we were ready but it was only a moment before one of the children was in tears and descended with the aid of one of the adults.? I was surprised to see children of that age un-roped as it’s highly advisable with children (and effectively obligatory when working professionally with them).? I certainly rope up my youngest daughter (9).

It was a beautiful autumn (at least a couple of days before it’s official start) day with blue skies but without the intense light of summer.? The Pierra Menta in the Beaufortain could be seen in the distance and the Glacier de la Vanoise.

Soon we reached one of the key features of the route a “Nepal” bridge gained after a short descent round a nose of rock.? I went ahead so that I could take a video of this section with a terrific backdrop of alpine pastures, chalets and the limestone bulk of La Tournette in the distance.? We continued to a flattening where we stopped to enjoy our sandwich and drink in the views and breath in the fresh, alpine air.

Movement caught my eye below and saw me reaching for my camera as a “Bearded Vulture” (Gypaete Barbu – fr) or Lammergaier thermalled effortlessly below above the pine trees below the cliff.? It circled gaining height as it rose along the line of the cliff.? I snapped away hoping to get a good shot.? It’s a majestic bird with an adult’s wingspan reaching c. 2m 80cm.? After this perfect demonstration of thermalling that I could never match when I paraglided we moved on.? It’s moments like this that make my day and sharing this moment with Helen and Owen was a highlight of the day.

Soon we were below the exit with two choices, one over the short overhang or two an easy traverse of the ledges and up a short gully.? There wasn’t much of a discussion, the overhang beckoned.? After dropping off the rope coils I had tied off around me I quickly installed myself above so that I could give a direct belay, more for my own peace of mind.? Helen and Owen made short work of it and the rope wasn’t required but there “just in case”.? A few minutes later we were at the finish and getting out the remainder of our food and just enjoying relaxing in the sun after a great few hours spent together in a picture-postcard environment.

Via ferrata in the Aravis – Tour de la Jalouvre

Another beautiful sunny day in Savoie and Haute Savoie of the French Alps.? We set off to the Aravis, a mountain range between Annecy and Megeve that includes the winter resorts of La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand.

The via ferrata the Tour de la Jalouvre is located between Le Grand Bornand and the Col de la Colombiere.? After a short walk with the sound of cowbells in our ears we reached the foot of the route.? The first section is generally straightforward apart from a small overlap where the arms are woken from their slumbers.

Higher up is the tower, the aptly named “Pilier des Courants d’Air” that is reached by crossing the bridge “Passerelle du Gypaete”.? The pillar is steep with exposure below one’s feet but a steady, calm approach brings you easily to the top.? From here the angle eases although the exposure continues.? Now on the crest of the long spur easy but continuous climbing brought us to the top of the route.? After some lunch it was time to attack the descent across paths and limestone karst.? Movement in the sky attracted my attention and I spotted a “Gypaete” (Bearded Vulture or Lammergaier) gracefully traversing the mountain-side.? After a final cable protected descent we gained the large couloir that leads to the summit and a steep but steady descent.

A Walk Above Lake Annecy

Lake Annecy, with its turquoise waters, was the backdrop for our walk today. Annecy is reached in under 40 minutes from Geneva which makes it an ideal location for a short break.

Today we were heading for the mountains that dominate the Eastern side of lake Annecy. The principle tops are those of La Tournette (2351m) and Les Dents de Lanfon. Across the lake the limestone mountains of the Bauges spread out before us. The Bauges are not high, the highest summit being the Pointe d’Arcalod (2217m), but the tops are frequently guarded by steep and rocky slopes.

We reached the starting point for our walk after driving up past the Col de la Forclaz. On a sunny day a steady stream of paragliders take to the air from just above the col here. Leaving the car we walked up through the alpine pastures to reach the Chalet de l’Aulp. Today it was shut up as the cows have not yet come up to their summer pastures. Other walkers were heading for La Tournette which was still sporting large snow-fields on its steep flanks guarded by high limestone cliffs.

We followed a path, initially through woods and crossed a couple of gullies. Birds were singing in the trees and a squirrel hopped across the path in front of us. Soon we came out of the shade of the trees into green, alpine meadows and the Col des Nantets a good spot for a drink and a snack. From here we could see down towards the town of Thones in the Aravis the gateway to the villages of Le Grand Bornand and St Jean de Sixt.

Passing the chalet des Nantets the path zig-zagged up through sparse pines to reach rockier terrain. A short rocky passage, protected by a hand-line, brought us into a grassy hanging valley. Crocuses added a splash of colour against the still hay-coloured grass. A few old patches of snow lay in the hollows. We passed by the Chalets de l’Aulp Rian, deserted for now but soon to be a farmer’s home for the long days of summer whilst watching over herds of cows.

A signpost indicated the Col des Fretes below the imposing Dents des Lanfons however we continued climbing a shallow re-entrant. At the top limestone outcrops, stunted pine trees and a 360 degree view; time for our picnic. The backdrop of Lac d’Annecy, the mountains of the Aravis and beyond the snow and ice-covered mass of Mont Blanc and its satellite peaks.