Hike to Grotte de Barmafi, Pont des Sarrasins & Pierre à la Dame
Last fall, I went on a hike near Mont Lachat above Thônes: I walked through Grotte de Barmafi and Pont des Sarrasins on the way to Belvédère du Mont Lachat. I then walked down passing through Pierre à la Dame and Col de la Buffaz.
Here is a map of the path I walked:
- Download path KML
- Download large map
- More photos on Flickr
- Day of the hike: October 18th, 2021
In the morning, I took a Car Région bus (line Y62) and got off at La Vacherie in Thônes. I started on the path to Le Fételay, then walked in the forest to Combe à Banon, a hut in the forest. I then made a detour to Grotte de Barmafi, a small cave. I came back to Combe à Banon then kept going up. I reached the ridge of Mont Lachat after a while. I followed it until Pont des Sarrasins, a natural arch. I backtracked on the ridge and continued through Granges du Lachat until I reached Belvédère du Mont Lachat, where I had already been a few years ago. There was a great view from there. I then took an unmarked trail below the cliff of Mont Lachat towards Pierre à la Dame and Col de la Buffaz. There was also a pretty good view from Pierre à la Dame. I started on the way down: I reached Col de la Buffaz then took the dirt road to Le Sappey. Finally. I walked on the side of the paved road until Thuy in the valley and the bus stop.
▲ Mont Lachat seen from the bus stop at La Vacherie in Thônes.
▲ Pont Romain and Chapelle de la Bossenaz.
▲ Tunnel to cross the road.
▲ On the trail to Le Fételay.
▲ La Tournette.
▲ Aiguille de Serraval.
▲ Valley.
▲ Couple of donkeys at Le Fételay.
▲ I took a trail in the forest and after a while I arrive at Combe à Banon (a hut in the forest). The fork to Grotte de Barmafi started there.
▲ Trail to Grotte de Barmafi.
▲ Entrance of Grotte de Barmafi.
▲ The cave. It is small but looks quite comfy.
▲ Outside the cave.
▲ Exit.
▲ Pointe de Tardevant in the Aravis range.
▲ Pointe Percée.
▲ Back at Combe à Banon.
▲ On the way to the ridge of Mont Lachat.
▲ I made a small detour to a viewpoint. I ate lunch there.
▲ La Tournette.
▲ I took a small trail to the ridge.
▲ On the ridge, on the way to Pont des Sarrasins. The trail was not easy to see sometimes because of all the fallen leaves, but the ridge is quite narrow so it is hard to actually get lost.
▲ Trail marker.
▲ Pont des Sarrasins.
▲ Below the arch.
▲ I walked to the top of the arch. There is a great view from there.
▲ Pointe Percée.
▲ On the way to Granges du Lachat, following the ridge.
▲ Aiguille des Calvaires and Aiguille de Borderan.
▲ Saint-Jean-de-Sixt.
▲ Friendly dogs.
▲ Some of the Granges du Lachat.
▲ Aravis.
▲ Col du Marais, with Dent de Cons in the background.
▲ Pointe de Beauregard and Col des Aravis behind it. Aiguille Croche can also be seen.
▲ Mont Charvin.
▲ La Grande Balmaz.
▲ Pointe de Puvat.
▲ Pointe de la Québlette.
▲ Tête Noire.
▲ Arriving at Belvédère du Mont Lachat.
▲ View towards the ridge I just walked.
▲ On the trail to Pierre à la Dame. It is unmarked but relatively easy to follow. There are sheep tracks branching here and there however.
▲ Col de la Buffaz.
▲ Pierre à la Dame.
▲ Mont Lachat above.
▲ Le Sappey.
▲ Steep path on the way to Pierre à la Dame. The trail arrived below and I had to walk through the grass to reach it.
▲ Pierre à la Dame. There is a path to the summit of Mont Lachat passing through here.
▲ Rochers de Leschaux.
▲ Towards the summit of Mont Lachat. The large cross can be seen.
▲ Col de l’Ovine, Pointe de Puvat and Montagne des Auges
▲ Lake Annecy in the distance.
▲ Chalet de l’Ovine
▲ Montagne des Auges.
▲ On the way down to Col de la Buffaz.
▲ Pointe de Puvat.
▲ Towards Entremont.
▲ Col de la Buffaz. There are sheeps during summer, as weel as sheepdogs.
▲ Roc de Charmieux.
▲ Mont Lachat.
▲ Chalet de la Buffaz.
▲ On the dirt road toward Le Sappey. There is also a trail but I wanted to make it back to Thône before nightfall.
▲ Dent du Cruet.
▲ Le Sappey.
▲ Chapelle du Sappey.
▲ Mont Lachat.
▲ Thônes.
▲ Mont Charvin.
▲ Valley towards Annecy.
▲ Thuy.
▲ Looking back towards Col de la Buffaz.
▲ Bus stop in Thuy.