Hike to Désert de Platé (Summer 2019): Grandes Platières, Chalets de Sales, Les Laouchets
Last summer, I went back to Désert de Platé, this time starting from the Flaine ski resort and walking a loop through Grandes Platières, Chalets de Sales and the Laouchet lakes.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In the morning, I went to Flaine by car with my father. However, during summer (and also winter), there is also a bus from Cluses, called Flaine Express. Once in Flaine, I took the cable car to Grandes Platières at the top of the limestone pavement of Désert de Platé. I then started on a loop, first walking towards Col de Platé then going down to Chalets de Sales. I ate lunch there then started on the way back up. I followed a path through Les Grands Prés, a large pasture near the Chalets, then a trail that led south-west of Les Laouchets, a group of small lakes. Finally, I took an unmarked path through the limestone in order to reach Grandes Platières: After a while, there wasn’t really a visible trail but walking generally upwards until the cable car station was enough. I then went down to Flaine using the cable car.
Above, view from the car park outside Flaine in the morning. The ski resort itself is pedestrian-only.
Above, Hotel Le Flaine. The whole resort was designed in the brutalist style by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer.
Above, “Les Trois Hexagones” by Victor Vasarely.
Above, lawn at Flaine Forum.
Above, “Le Boqueteau” by Jean Dubuffet.
Above, “La Tête de Femme” by Pablo Picasso.
Above, Téléphérique des Grandes Platières.
Above, boarding the cable car.
Above, view of the limestone pavement from the cable car.
Above, at the upper station of Téléphérique des Grandes Platières.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, Tête du Colonney.
Above, Pointe du Dérochoir and Pointe de Platé.
Above, cable car station.
Above, path to Col de Platé. It follows a ski track maintenance road.
Above, Chablais mountains.
Above, Le Môle.
Above, Col de Platé and Tête Pelouse.
Above, spiniest thistle.
Above, Rochers des Fiz.
Above, Col Pelouse.
Above, Mont Buet.
Above, from there I took a path off-trail through the limestone.
Above, back on the trail down to Chalets de Sales.
Above, Frêtes du Grenier.
Above, Chalets de Sales.
Above, Pointe de Chardonnière.
Above, Chapelle de Sales.
Above, picnic tables at Refuge de Sales.
Above, on the way back up, after lunch.
Above, Abondance cattle at Chalets de Sales.
Above, Les Grands Prés.
Above, Pointe du Dérochoir.
Above, looking back at Chalets de Sales.
Above, Pointes d’Ayères.
Above, Pointe du Dérochoir and Pointe de Platé.
Above, Col de la Portette.
Above, Châteaux de Cran.
Above, Passage du Dérochoir.
Above, looking towards Grandes Platières.
Above, Les Laouchets.
Above, Pointe de Platé and Col de la Portette.
Above, limestone pavement.
Above, a couple of sheep.
Above, on the way to Grandes Platières. At first, the path follows an unmarked but visible trail.
Above, Rochers des Fiz.
Above, Aiguille du Midi.
Above, Pointe d’Anterne.
Above, more sheep.
Above, starting from there, I walked through the limestone.
Above, Les Laouchets below.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, some snow left in August.
Above, paint marks. There used to be a marked trail passing through there but it is no longer maintained.
Above, Châteaux de Cran and Pointe de Platé.
Above, Aiguille Verte.
Above, more people near the Grandes Platières cable car station.
Above, cable car station.
Above, view from the cable car on the way down.
Above, back in Flaine.
Above, the Téléphérique des Grandes Platières.
Above, concrete at Flaine Florum.
Above, Hotel Le Flaine.
