Hike to Mont de Boisy
During winter 2020, I went on a hike to Mont de Boisy, a small mountain next to Lake Geneva between Annemasse and Thonon.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML, download large map):
In the morning, I took a train from Annecy to Perrignier, switching at Annemasse. For a short while, I walked along the road. Then I entered the Forêt de Planbois in Lully. It was very muddy. Once in Sciez, I followed the Sentier des Métamorphoses, a trail along a river named Le Foron (a generic name for rivers in Haute-Savoie, so it is not the same as the one in La Rocher-sur-Foron or Annemasse). It passed through the ruins of a watermill, Moulin de la Serpe. After that, I headed to Mont de Boisy proper: The trail starts in Chavannex. I walked through the plateau at the top of the mountain towards Ballaison. I made a detour through the Pierre à Martin, a large boulder in the middle of a field brought there when glaciers covered the area. In the village, I visited the church (Église Saint-Étienne) and passed by the park of Château de Thénières, inspired by Scottish castle architecture. Finally, I went down towards Loisin and waited for a LIHSA bus to the Annemasse train station.
Above, at the Perrignier train station.
Above, walking along the road.
Above, Chapelle de Brécorens.
Above, Signal des Voirons.
Above, at a level crossing.
Above, in Forêt de Planbois.
Above, underwater.
Above, muddy.
Above, ford in Sciez.
Above, Mont de Boisy.
Above, Crêt de la Neige in the French Jura.
Above, Le Foron.
Above, on a trail to Moulin de la Serpe.
Above, ruins of Moulin de la Serpe.
Above, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman).
Above, at that point, in order to get to Chavannex, I followed a trail marked on the IGN map but it was not there so I walked off-trail in the forest for a few minutes.
Above, out of the forest, looking towards Mont de Boisy.
Above, Chablais.
Above, Châteaux des Allinges.
Above, Swiss Alps.
Above, Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Chavannex.
Above, on the way to the top of Mont de Boisy.
Above, fallen trail marker at the top.
Above, trail on the plateau at the top of Mont de Boisy.
Above, it was also quite muddy.
Above, I made a detour to the actual summit as marked on the IGN map.
Above, out of the forest in Ballaison.
Above, Signal des Voirons.
Above, Pierre à Martin.
Above, looking towards Notre-Dame-des-Vignes from the boulder.
Above, center of Ballaison.
Above, Crêt de la Neige.
Above, the beast approaches.
Above, Église Saint-Étienne.
Above, Château de Thénières.
Above, I had to walk on the side of a road for a short while but there was little car traffic.
Above, Lake Geneva.
Above, Le Salève.
Above, picnic tables and viewpoint.
Above, passing through a vineyard.
Above, sheep.
Above, Église Saint-Affre in Loisin.
Above, Signal des Voirons.
Above, LIHSA bus stop in Loisin.
Above, Léman Express train in Annemasse.