Hike to Montagne de la Mandallaz (Winter 2020)
On the first day of 2020, I went on a hike to Montagne de la Mandallaz near Annecy: This time, instead of the Tête where I had already been a few times, I went up to the actual (and somewhat unremarkable) summit of the mountain.
Above, Montagne de la Mandallaz seen from Annecy-le-Vieux, with the Tête on the left and the summit in the middle.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML, download large map image):
In the morning, I took a local bus to Épagny Metz-Tessy and got off at the Grands Champs bus stop. There was a thick fog but it looked likely it would be sunny above the cloud clover. I first took a path through Les Crêts, a small hill, on the way to Bois des Machurettes. At the Bois, I started on the way up towards the top of Montagne de la Mandallaz. When I exited the forest, I found myself out of the fog: There was a sea of clouds in the valley and above Lake Annecy. I kept going up and reentered the forest at La Ramesse. There are many trails in the area. I chose one that got me close the summit: There is no actual trail for the final part but the forest was not very thick there so it was fine. The summit was some kind of plateau with a few small bumps and it was hard to tell what the highest point was. There was a cairn on top of one of the bumps so I assumed that was it. After that, I walked down towards Ferrières and Pringy. I passed by Chapelle de Ferrières on the way then followed a road along the Genon river. Once in the valley in Pringy, I took a bus back.
Above, in Épagny Metz-Tessy. Visibility was low.
Above. Chemin des Crêts.
Above, it was quite cold. There is a viewpoint at the top of the hill but there was little to see.
Above, after getting down from Les Crêts, I headed to Bois des Machurettes.
Above, path to the forest.
Above, almost above the fog.
Above, Montagne de Sous-Dine.
Above, Plateau des Bornes.
Above, summit of Montagne de la Mandallaz.
Above, Tête du Parmelan.
Above, Tête de la Mandallaz.
Above, at La Ramesse.
Above, sea of clouds above Lake Annecy.
Above, Bornes.
Above, Mont Veyrier and La Tournette.
Above, Aravis in the background.
Above, end of the trail.
Above, on the plateau at the summit of Montagne de la Mandallaz.
Above, cairn. Maybe the summit?
Above, on the way down.
Above, Plateau des Bornes.
Above, Le Môle.
Above, Chablais seen from Cuvat.
Above, Dent du Corbeau in Massif de la Lauzière.
Above, Dent du Cruet, Pointe de Talamarche, La Tournette and Dents de Lanfon.
Above, in Ferrières.
Above, Montagne de Sous-Dine.
Above, Chapelle de Ferrières.
Above, after sunset.
Above, Genon river.
Above, arriving at Pringy in the valley.
