March 22, 2018

Cave & Waterfall of Seythenex

The Cave & Waterfall of Seythenex (Grotte & Cascade de Seythenex) are natural sites at the foot of the Bauges mountains, down from Col de Tamié and Pointe de la Sambuy. The waterfall is formed by the Saint-Ruph torrent which pours from 45 meters high into large pools, on the way to Lake Annecy. A footbridge and staircases enable visitors to walk up to the top of the waterfall. As to the cave, it is the only one open to the general public in Haute Savoie. It has 1km of galeries and passages, with 250m accessible as part of a guided tour.

March 21, 2018

Hike to Pointe de la Sambuy

I spent last summer (and more) in Annecy, in Haute-Savoie. I went back on a hike to Pointe de la Sambuy, in the Bauges mountains near Faverges (south of Annecy). This time, I took the standard trail to the summit.

August 31, 2017

Mount Royal

Mount Royal (Mont Royal) is a small mountain in Montreal, immediately west of downtown. It is the site of Mount Royal Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and the city’s largest park.

Above, Mount Royal seen from the observatory of Au Sommet Place Ville-Marie. The Belvédère Kondiaronk, on the left, offers a great view on the city. The Mount Royal Cross can be seen on the right.

July 30, 2016

Mont Rond / Col de la Faucille

Last winter, on Christmas day, I went to Col de la Faucille, in the French Jura near Geneva. There is a ski resort there but there was barely any snow. I took the ropeway to the summit of Mont Rond and walked around for a bit.

January 9, 2015

Khewra Salt Mine

The Khewra Salt Mine is located in the Salt Range mountains in Punjab, Pakistan, between Lahore and Islamabad. It is Pakistan’s largest and oldest salt mine and the world’s second largest. It is said to have been discovered when horses in the army of Alexander the Great began licking the stones near the mine. It is now a major tourist attraction in the area.

December 12, 2014

Hike to Mont Charvin

For my last hike of the summer, I went to Mont Charvin, a mountain in the Aravis range located near Faverges. I followed this itinerary.

December 8, 2014

Hike to Pic de Jallouvre

The Pic de Jallouvre is a mountain in the Bornes Massif located near Le Grand-Bornand in Haute-Savoie. I followed this itinerary (in the other direction; also I walked until the Col de la Colombière and the end diverges a bit as well), going on a loop around the Pic starting and ending at Le Grand-Bornand.

December 7, 2014

Hike to Dents de Lanfon

The Dents de Lanfon (Teeth of Lanfon) are a mountain in the Bornes Massif bordering Lake Annecy. There is a great view at the summit but the trail is quite difficult. I followed this itinerary.

December 6, 2014

Hike to Lac des Chambres, Pointe de Bellegarde & Lac de la Vogealle (part 2)

This is the second part of the loop around Pointe Rousse des Chambres. Below are photos of the trail from the summit of Pointe de Bellegarde to Samoëns, passing through Lac de la Vogealle and Combe aux Puaires.

December 5, 2014

Hike to Lac des Chambres, Pointe de Bellegarde & Lac de la Vogealle (part 1)

Lac des Chambres @ Hike to Lac des Chambres, Pointe de Bellegarde & Lac de la Vogealle

The Lac des Chambres, Pointe de Bellegarde and Lac de la Vogealle are located next to the Cirque du Fer à Cheval in the Massif du Giffre, in Haute-Savoie. They are points of interest on the Tour des Dents Blanches, which takes multiple days. For myself, I just went there for a day-hike walking a loop around the Pointe Rousse des Chambres, starting and ending in the village of Samoëns. The itinerary I followed was like this one (although in the other direction as the one described). Here is a map. Here is more detailed description of the trail until Lac de la Vogealle and some instructions to go up to Combe aux Puaires from there. In this post, I am posting photos from the part from Samoëns to the summit of Pointe de Bellegarde. I will post the rest in Part 2.