Hike to Col de la Fenêtre & Lacs Jovet
Last summer, I went on a hike above Les Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc: I passed through Col de la Fenêtre on the way to Lacs Jovet.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In the morning, I took a train from Annecy to Sallanches. I then boarded a LIHSA bus (line 84) to the center of Les Contamines-Montjoie, below Mont Joly. I visited the local church (Église de la Sainte-Trinité) while waiting for the summer shuttle: It took me to the lower station of Télécabine de la Gorge, further in the valley. I boarded the cable car then switched to another one, Téléphérique du Signal, in order to get to Le Signal and the start of the trail. At first, I walked on the dirt road towards Col du Joly, but, halfway, I took a trail through Lac de Roselette that went directly to Tête du Lac de Roselette. From there, I walked to Col de la Fenêtre, a pass located between Aiguille de Roselette and Tête de la Cicle. There was a great view on Mont Blanc from there. I then walked down in order to join with the GR TMB trail (Grande Randonnée du Tour du Mont Blanc). I crossed that path and went up again, in order to reach Lacs Jovet, located below Mont Tondu. There are 2 lakes but I stopped on the shore of the first and biggest lake. I ate lunch and rested for a while. Finally, I started on the walk down to Notre-Dame de la Gorge in Les Contamines-Montjoie: I followed the GR TMB down through Refuge de la Balme and Refuge de Nant Borrant. There were a lot of people on that part. At La Gorge, I visited the church then waited for the shuttle to the center of Les Contamines-Montjoie. I boarded a LIHSA bus to the train station of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet, where I waited some more for the train back to Annecy.
Above, at Les Contamines-Montjoie.
Above, Église de la Sainte-Trinité.
Above, gondolas of Télécabine de la Gorge.
Above, on the way to Le Signal.
Above, view of Aiguille de Roselette from the upper station of Télécabine du Signal.
Above, Mont Joly.
Above, dirt road to Col du Joly.
Above, Aiguille Croche.
Above, Lac de Roselette.
Above, Col du Joly.
Above, ridge between Aiguille Croche and Mont Joly.
Above, looking towardsTête du Lac de Roselette.
Above, Lac de la Girotte.
Above, Aiguille de Roselette and Tête de la Cicle, with Col de la Fenêtre in the middle.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, a herd of Abondance cattle.
Above, a Tarentaise bull.
Above, black horse and Mont Blanc.
Above, Rochers des Enclaves.
Above, Tête de la Cicle.
Above, on the trail to Col de la Fenêtre.
Above, La Grande Pierrière.
Above, looking back toward Tête du Lac de Roselette.
Above, Col de la Fenêtre in view.
Above, Col de la Fenêtre.
Above, Mont Blanc on the other side.
Above, Lacs Jovet are located between the mountain in the foreground (Monts Jovet) and the one in the background (Mont Tondu).
Above, a lot of people.
Above, looking towards Plan Jovet and the trail to Lacs Jovet.
Above, Mont Charvin in the Aravis.
Above, a last look at the ascent trail.
Above, on the way down.
Above, Col de la Cicle.
Above, Pointe Toepfer.
Above, checking the map.
Above, Aiguilles de la Pennaz.
Above, blueberry.
Above, Monts Jovet above.
Above, GR TMB trail, towards Les Contamines-Montjoie.
Above, Refuge de la Balme.
Above, Le Bon Nant, which flows through Saint-Gervais on the way to the Arve river.
Above, in Plan Jovet.
Above, Aiguilles de la Pennaz.
Above, field of blueberry.
Above, Col du Bonhomme on the GR TMB trail.
Above, Col de la Fenêtre and Aiguille de Roselette.
Above, Tête d’Enclave and Têtes de Belleval.
Above, the biggest of Lacs Jovet. The other lake is hidden in a bowl in that direction.
Above, Col d’Enclave.
Above, Mont Tondu.
Above, weird hat.
Above, on the way down.
Above, Plan Jovet.
Above, Monts Jovet.
Above, Mont Joly.
Above, Refuge de la Balme.
Above, looking back towards Aiguilles de la Pennaz.
Above, Pont de la Téna.
Above, Le Bon Nant.
Above, Notre-Dame de la Gorge.
Above, waiting for the train to Annecy at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet.