Hike to Lacs de Lavouet & Mont Mirantin
Last summer, I went on a hike to Lacs de Lavouet and Mont Mirantin, in the Beaufortain mountains above Albertville.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In the morning, I took a LIHSA bus from Annecy to Albertville and boarded the summer shuttle to Beaufort-sur-Doron, where I switched to another one that got me to Le Planay. Using the Télésiège de Piapolay, I reached the trailhead and started walking on the Tour du Beaufortain trail towards Col de la Bâthie. I kept going to the Lacs de Lavouet and Col des Lacs, then went down towards the Chalets de l’Aulp de Tours. From there, I went up again to find the ridge trail going to Pas de l’Âne. After the Pas, I took the trail to the summit of Mont Mirantin and reached the cross soon after: There was a bit of climbing involved at some point but the path was equipped with chains. There was a great view from there: On the Beaufortain but also the Aravis, the Bauges and Lauzière mountains. I started on the way down using the same path as I took on the way up but I then took a trail towards Albertville. I had planned to catch the bus back to Annecy in the evening but I was way too late for that. It was night well before I reached Albertville and I had to wait for the first bus on the next day.
Above, waiting for the summer shuttle in Albertville.
Above, at Le Planay.
Above, Mont Mirantin.
Above, view from the upper station of Télésiège de Piapoplay.
Above, on the GR de Pays Tour du Beaufortain.
Above, Pointe de Lavouet.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, Col de la Bâthie.
Above, cross at the Col.
Above, on the way to the Lacs de Lavouet.
Above, Chalets de Bellachat.
Above, the biggest of the Lacs de Lavouet.
Above, the other lakes.
Above, view on the other side from Col des Lacs.
Above, Roche Pourrie.
Above, Albertville.
Above, towards Pointe de la Grand Journée.
Above, on the way to Chalets de l’Aulp de Tours.
Above, some snow left even late in the summer.
Above, Bauges.
Above, Isère valley.
Above, Chalets de l’Aulp de Tours.
Above, Le Grand Arc in the Lauzière mountains.
Above, Roche Pourrie.
Above, La Tournette.
Above, on the way to Pas de l’Âne.
Above, Mont Charvin in the Aravis.
Above, Mont Blanc covered by clouds.
Above, Mont Mirantin.
Above, at Pas de l’Âne.
Above, Pic de Vache Rouge and Pointe de la Grande Journée.
Above, Le Planay in the valley.
Above, final ascent to the summit of Mont Mirantin.
Above, Grand Mont.
Above, summit cross.
Above, on the way down.
Above, back at Pas de l’Âne.
Above, the trail down.
Above, Roche Pourrie.
Above, Les Chappes. At that point, I still believed I could make it to Albertville in time for the last bus so I stopped taking pictures to concentrate on the walking.