July 3, 2021

Snowshoe hike on Plateau de Beauregard & Frêtes de Colomban

In the winter of 2020, I went back to the ski resort of La Clusaz and went on a snowshoe hike on Plateau de Beauregard.

Here is a map of the path I walked:

In the morning, I took a LIHSA bus (line 62) from Annecy to La Clusaz. I boarded a gondola at Télécabine de Beauregard to reach the plateau. There were quite a lot of people there. I walked the short path to the summit of Pointe de Beauregard, where I had already been in the summer. There was a great view. Then I followed prepared tracks for pedestrians and snowshoe hikers towards Col de la Croix Fry in Manigod. I took a wrong turn at some point and found myself on a slope for alpine skiing, so I had to get back up. Before reaching Col de la Croix Fry, I found a trail going up to the ridge of Frêtes de Colomban. Once I got out of the forest, there was a view of Plateau de Beauregard below and the surrounding mountains. Then, I went down towards Chalet de Colomban. In the morning, I had planned to make a detour to the cross nearby (Croix de Colomban) but I decided to play it safe and go back to the station of Télécabine de Beauregard before it closed. I crossed the Plateau and took a gondola down to the village then waited for the bus.

▲ Le Nom, which flows from Col des Aravis and joins with the Fier river in Thônes.

▲ At the lower station of Télécabine de Beauregard

▲ From the upper station.

▲ Montagne des Voirons in the distance.

▲ Mont Lachat de Thônes.

▲ Skiiers.

▲ Col des Aravis.

▲ South of Col des Aravis.

▲ Lounging chairs at the summit of Pointe de Beauregard.

▲ View from the summit: La Clusaz below, with Aravis on the right, Chaîne du Bargy on the left and Tête du Danay in the center.

▲ Pointe Percée.

▲ Pyramide du Parmelan.

▲ Chaîne du Bargy, with Roc des Tours and Pic de Jallouvre.

▲ On the way down.

▲ Plateau de Beauregard. Chalet de Colomban is straight ahead on the photo.

▲ Dent du Cruet.

▲ Here I took a wrong turn. I realised mid-way, but on the map there looked like there was a dirt road to get back on track so I kept going. Unfortunately, during winter that dirt road becomes an alpine ski slope and I had to get all the way back up.