Hike to Pointe des Aravis
Last fall, I went on a hike to Pointe des Aravis, in La Clusaz: It is the first named summit on the Aravis range north of Col des Aravis. However, it is essentially a small bump on the way to Aiguille de Borderan.
Here is a map of the path I walked:
- Download path KML
- Download large map
- More photos on Flickr
- Day of the hike: October 16th, 2021
In the morning, I took a Car Région bus (line Y62) to La Clusaz. Then, I started walking: I passed by Hameau des Alpes and Chapelle de Gotty on the way to Combe de Borderan. In the summer, an alternative to the path I took to get there is to use the chairlift of Crêt du Merle in order to get a head start on the ascent.
Once at Combe de Borderan, I took a fork towards the exit of the Via Ferrata du Col des Aravis. Then I left the marked trail and walked through slabs of limestone and grass to reach the summit of Pointe des Aravis. On the way back, I returned to Combe de Borderan. Then, in order to get back to the village, I walked down the road (Route du Crêt du Merle).
▲ Pointe des Aravis seen from Mont Lachat de Thônes. Aiguille de Borderan is on the top left.
I found this video of the path:
▲ In La Clusaz.
▲ Télécabine de Beauregard.
▲ Ski jump.
▲ Passing below the lower station of Télécabine de Beauregard.
▲ Walking on the side of the road.
▲ Chapelle de Gotty.
▲ Bois de la Colombière.
▲ Pointe de la Blonnière and Dent du Chatelet.
▲ Combe de Borderan.
▲ “Chemin sans issue” (no exit). The path leads to the exit of the Via Ferrata.
▲ At the exit of the Via Ferrata above Col des Aravis, looking at L’Étale.
▲ The trail after that is barely marked.
▲ There are some faint red marks.
▲ Upper station of Télésiège du Crêt du Loup.
▲ La Tournette.
▲ Col des Aravis.
▲ La Giettaz.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Roc de Charmieux.
▲ Limestone slab.
▲ There are some red paint marks but they are barely visible. I walked through the limestone until I was below the small cliff ahead then went around it.
▲ Towards Tête du Danay.
▲ L’Étale.
▲ Aiguille de Borderan and Mont Blanc.
▲Col des Aravis.
▲ Mont Téret.
▲ Aiguille du Midi.
▲ A bit of snow.
▲ Arriving at the summit of Pointe des Aravis.
▲ Combe de Borderan.
▲ At the summit, looking at Aiguille de Borderan.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ The path to Aiguille de Borderan goes through the grass on the right.
▲ Cross at the summit of Aiguille des Calvaires.
▲ Mont Lachat de Thônes.
▲ Retenue de l’Étale (artificial lake for snow production).
▲ On the way back.
▲ Mont Lachat, above the Chamonix valley.
▲ Mont Blanc du Tacul.
▲ Pierra Menta.
▲ Grand Colombier.
▲ Plateau de Beauregard.
▲ Roc des Tours and Aiguille Verte.
▲ Tête Noire.
▲ Mont Joly.
▲ Praz Véchin.
▲ Plateau des Auges.
▲ Upper station of Télésiège du Crêt du Loup.
▲ Route du Col des Aravis on the Giettaz side.
▲ Pic de Jallouvre and Pointe Blanche.
▲ Shellfish fossils.
▲ Col des Aravis.
▲ Climbers.
▲ Back at the exit of the Via Ferrata.
▲ Route du Col des Aravis on La Clusaz side.
▲ Looking back at Pointe des Aravis.
▲ The limestone slab that I had to cross.
▲ Col de la Croix Fry.
▲ Pointe de Merdassier.
▲ Road to La Clusaz.
▲ Squirrel.
▲ Sunset.
▲ The law of life.
▲ Église Sainte-Foy at the center of the village.
▲ Summer luge track.
▲ Nom river.
▲ Parking du Salon des Dames, below the bus station.
▲ Pointe des Aravis seen from the bus station.
▲ Aiguille des Calvaires and Aiguille de Borderan.