Hike to Petit & Grand Croisse Baulet
During the summer of 2020, I went on a hike to Petit Croisse Baulet and Grand Croisse Baulet, starting in Megève and ending in Sallanches.
Here is a map of the path I walked:
- Download path KML
- Download photo KML
- Download large map
- More photos on Flickr
- Day of the hike: August 12th, 2020
In the morning, I took a Léman Express train to Sallanches then transferred to a bus (Car Région Y83) to Megève. I boarded Télécabine du Jaillet then started on the trail. I first made a short detour to Sommet des Salles and I reached Col du Jaillet after a while. I then took the path towards Petit Croisse Baulet. After that, I kept walking to the summit of Grand Croisse Baulet. There was a great view on the surrounding mountains from there, especially on the Aravis. Menacing clouds were gathering however so I soon started on the way down, passing through Cabane du Petit Plâtre and Tête Noire on the way to Cordon. It started raining lightly on the way. I took a series of trails in order to reach the Sallanches river. I followed it towards the town of Sallanches, as it started really pouring. Once in Sallanches, I waited for the train back to Annecy.
▲ Télécabine du Jaillet.
▲ Megève seen from the lower station of Télécabine du Jaillet.
▲ Croix de Sur les Près, near the upper station of Télécabine du Jaillet.
▲ View from the cross towards Mont Blanc.
▲ Petit Croisse Baulet and Grand Croisse Baulet seen from Sommet des Salles.
▲ Pointe Percée and Les Quatre Têtes.
▲ Fireweed.
▲ Towards Col du Jaillet.
▲ At Col du Jaillet, looking towards Sommet des Salles and Mont Blanc.
▲ Below Petit Croisse Baulet.
▲ Sallanches in the valley, with Aiguille de Varan on the other side.
▲ Summit of Petit Croisse Baulet.
▲ View towards Mont Blanc from the summit.
▲ Mont Charvin and L’Étale in the Aravis. Col des Aravis is on the right.
▲ Grand Croisse Baulet seen from Pointe de Merdassier, near L’Étale.
▲ Grand Croisse Baulet.
▲ Tête du Torraz.
▲ Petit Croisse Baulet and Grand Croisse Baulet seen from Tête du Torraz.
▲ Le Christomet.
▲ Rock below Petit Croisse Baulet.
▲ Aravis.
▲ Looking back at Petit Croisse Baulet.
▲ Arve valley towards Chamonix.
▲ On the ascent to Grand Croisse Baulet.
▲ At the summit of Grand Croisse Baulet.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Sheep.
▲ Dirt road coming from Col des Aravis.
▲ Petit Croisse Baulet, with Mont Joly and Aiguille Croche in the background.
▲ I kept walking on the ridge.
▲ Metal statue representing the Holy Virgin apparently.
▲ La Miaz.
▲ Pointe Percée.
▲ Cairn at the end of the ridge.
▲ Looking back.
▲ Col de Niard below.
▲ Getting back.
▲ On the way down.
▲ Lac de Passy.
▲ View of the path to Cabane du Petit Plâtre.
▲ Looking back at the summit.
▲ On the path.
▲ Passing below Grand Croisse Baulet.
▲ Cabane du Petit Plâtre.
▲ Col de Niard.
▲ Pointe Percée.
▲ Looking back at Grand Croisse Baulet.
▲ Aravis, looking towards Arête de la Besse (above Combe des Fours).
▲ Grand Croisse Baulet seen from Arête de la Besse.
▲ I made a detour to Tête du Planet.
▲ There were ropes to the summit but it looked precarious so I didn’t do the climb in the end.
▲ Passage de la Grande Forclaz, which links La Clusaz on the other side of the Aravis and Combe des Fours.
▲ Pointe Percée and Les Quatre Têtes.
▲ Tête Noire in view.
▲ Mont Joly and Aiguille Croche.
▲ Aiguille de Varan.
▲ Pointe Percée.
▲ Aiguille de Varan.
▲ More menacing clouds.
▲ It started raining a little at that point.
▲ In Cordon.
▲ Hmmm…
▲ Grotte Mariale de Lévaux in Sallanches.
▲ La Sallanches. I followed that river to the town of Sallanches.
▲ Château des Rubins.
▲ Collégiale Saint-Jacques. At that point, it was pouring.
▲ Gare SNCF in Sallanches.
▲ In the Léman Express train to Annecy.