Hike to Route de la Soif: From Col des Aravis to Ugine
At the beginning of summer, I went on a hike to Route de la Soif (Road of Thirst), a dirt road along the foot of the Aravis mountains that goes from Col des Aravis to Col de l’Arpettaz, and reached Ugine at the end of the day.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In the morning, I took a LIHSA bus (62 line) from Annecy to La Clusaz then boarded the summer shuttle to Col des Aravis. I started walking from there. In the first part, in order to reach Chalet du Curé, I didn’t take the dirt road like I did the last time I was in the area, earlier in the year. Instead, I took a trail above that went through Croix de Fer and Croix des Frêtes before reaching the Chalet. After that, I kept on the dirt road all the way to Col de l’Arpettaz. There was a great view along the way, on the Aravis above and also further mountains, like Mont Blanc, Croisse Baulet or the Beaufortain mountains. I stopped at the Refuge du Col de l’Arpettaz for some refreshment then started on the descent towards Ugine, taking a forest trail through Lanches du Nant Pugin, before taking another LIHSA bus (51 line) back to Annecy.
Above, at Col des Aravis, looking north.
Above, looking south at Pointe de Merdassier.
Above, east.
Above, west, with Mont Lachat de Thônes in the background.
Above, Chapelle Sainte-Anne.
Above, souvenir shops.
Above, on the road.
Above, looking back at Col des Aravis.
Above, taking a trail to Croix de Fer above the dirt road.
Above, Aiguille de Borderan.
Above, near Chalet des Planchaux.
Above, tadpoles.
Above, Croix de Fer.
Above, Tête du Torraz and Mont Blanc.
Above, La Gittaz below.
Above, Croisse Baulet and Petit Croisse Baulet.
Above, Chalet du Curé on the left.
Above, Chalet du Curé.
Above, north side of Col des Aravis.
Above, Route de la Soif towards Col de l’Arpettaz.
Above, Le Treu.
Above, L’Étale.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, Chalet du Curé.
Above, towards Croix Cartier.
Above, pedestal of the missing Croix des Frêtes.
Above, looking back at Croix des Frêtes.
Above, L’Étale.
Above, Mont Charvin in the background.
Above, following the dirt road.
Above, Tête du Torraz.
Above, towards Croix de Stata.
Above, Le Treu, Praz Véchin and Mont Charvin.
Above, Croisse Baulet.
Above, Praz Véchin.
Above, Les Troix Aiguilles (aka Pointe de Mandallaz).
Above, Chalets des Stallets.
Above, Le Treu.
Above, Les Troix Aiguilles.
Above, Mont Charvin.
Above, Col de l’Arpettaz in view.
Above, Le Treu.
Above, Tête de l’Aulp.
Above, Praz Véchin and Col de l’Arpettaz.
Above, Beaufortain in the background.
Above, Chalet des Merdassiers.
Above, this dog followed me for a few kilometres.
Above, goats.
Above, Col de l’Arpettaz.
Above, Les Troix Aiguilles.
Above, Mont Blanc in the clouds.
Above, below Mont Charvin.
Above, at Col de l’Arpettaz.
Above, dog at Refuge du Col de l’Arpettaz.
Above, the Refuge.
Above, La Tête, with Beaufortain in the background.
Above, Dent de Cons in the Bauges mountains.
Above, passing below Praz Véchin.
Above, snow on Mont Mirantin.
Above, Praz Véchin.
Above, Mont Charvin.
Above, highway to Albertville in the valley.
Above, forest trail down to Ugine.
