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Hike to Col de la Botte, Col du Fer & Col de l'Épine

Last summer, I went on a hike in Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin near Thônes, walking through 3 passes there: Col de la Botte, Col du Fer and Col de l’Épine.

Here is a map of the path I walked:

In the morning, I took a Car Région bus (line Y62) to Thônes then boarded a CCVT summer shuttle (new in 2021) to Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin, in the area known as Val Sulens. I started walking from there towards Col de la Botte, passing through Serraval on a trail around the mountain called Attrape-qui-Peut. From Col de la Botte, I walked below Montagne de Sulens (which I also visited later in the summer) for a while then went down and crossed the Chaise river. I then started on the ascent to Col du Fer, the highest point of the day. From there, I walked down the short distance to Col de l’Épine. I then kept going down and crossed the Chaise river a second time in order to get back to the villlage of Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin. I waited there for the shuttle back to Thônes.

▲ CCVT shuttle at Gare Routière de Thônes (photo taken earlier in the summer).

▲ In the village of Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin.

▲ On the way to Col de la Botte. I didn’t take the most direct path, instead walking a trail in Serraval around Attrape-qui-Peut.

▲ Aiguille de Serraval, below La Tournette hidden in the clouds.

▲ At the top of Attrape-qui-Peut.

▲ Muddy dirt road before reaching Col de la Botte.

▲ At Col de la Botte.

▲ Montagne de Sulens.

▲ Aravis in the clouds.

▲ La Tulle.

▲ Dent de Cons on the left.

▲ Dirt road on the way to the Chaise river.

▲ Fireweed.

▲ Montagne de Sulens.

▲ Col du Fer ahead.

▲ Crossing the Chaise river.

▲ Chaise. It flows into the Arly river, which flows into the Isère river, which flows into the Rhône.

▲ Hamlet known as Les Dzeures.

▲ Col de la Botte.

▲ Col de l’Épine.

▲ View towards the village of Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin.

▲ Summit of Mont Montagne de Sulens.

▲ I had to walk along the paved road for a while.

▲ Crêt des Mouches and Pointe de la Beccaz.

▲ Montagne des Frêtes du Lars and La Tournette in the clouds.

▲ Montagne de Sulens.

▲ Mont Charvin.

▲ Below Col du Fer.

▲ Sheep and sheep dog.

▲ La Tulle.

▲ At Col du Fer.

▲ Pic de Jallouvre to the north.

▲ Dents de Cons to the south.

▲ Col du Fer seen from the forest below Dent de Cons.

▲ On the way to Col de l’Épine.

▲ Vertical strata at a place called Les Fauges.

▲ Towards the Tarentaise Valley.

▲ Dent de Cons.

▲ Arriving at a hamlet known as Ville de Rosset.

▲ Col des Vorets and Aiguille de Serraval.

▲ Faverges below.

▲ Towards Thônes.

▲ At Col de l’Épine.

▲ On the way down to the Chaise river.

▲ La Tournette still in the clouds.

▲ Pigs.

▲ La Tournette.

▲ Attrape-qui-Peut.

▲ Crêt des Mouches.

▲ Mont Charvin.

▲ Passerelle du Vieux Moulin across the Chaise river.

▲ Aiguille du Bouchet.

▲ Back at Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin.

▲ Notre Dame du Bouchet.

▲ Waiting for the bus near Église de l’Assomption-de-Marie.