Highlights
- Hiking in a wilderness area
- Panoramic views of the Aravis mountains and Mont Blanc
- Typical mountain refuge
Day 1: Cross montagne des frêtes and climb to sous-dine
D+ 870m D- 850m Dist 13.4km 5h45 walking time
The first day begins on the Plateau des Glières at 1450m, a French Resistance stronghold. We'll head for the dairy field across the mountain frêtes. Arriving at the champ laitier, a large alpine pasture, the view opens out onto the sub-dine mountain at 2000m. The climb to the summit is gentle. A herd of male ibex is a frequent sight. The view from the summit is panoramic over the Alps and Jura. We continue via the pointe de sous dine and the col du freu to our overnight refuge at the foot of the Parnal rock.
Overnight in refuge (dormitory).
Day 2: Sur cou, col de spée and return to the Plateau des Glières
D+ 710m D- 728m Dist 12.7km 4h45 walking time
The next day, we can start by climbing the small mountain of Sur cou, overlooking the Arve valley. We then walk along the imposing limestone face of the Roche Parnal to reach the Col du Freu. From the col, there's a magnificent view of the Aravis mountains and Mont Blanc. We switch to the alpine pastures of the Chalets de Tinnaz before crossing the Col de Spée, which takes us back to the Plateau des Glières.
