Pointe de Chalune loop
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.56 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,841 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 2,841 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,909 ft
- TrailRank
- 43
- Min elevation
- 4,879 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 3 hours 19 minutes
- Time
- 6 hours 6 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1904
- Uploaded
- June 16, 2024
- Recorded
- June 2024
near Station de Sommand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (France)
Viewed 145 times, downloaded 6 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This is a loop route for those who fancy something other than the standard route up and down the Pointe de Chalune. It's pleasantly free of any scary exposed sections.
It follows the usual route up to the Chalet Blanc, but passes to the right of the houses. The track from there to the Col de la Bolire isn't on OpenStreetMap but is on the French IGN 25000 map (Bonneville), and is clearly visible contouring round the hillside. It's worth checking for flocks of sheep with protecting dogs which may well block your progress.
After the Col de la Bolire we headed down the path doing down to the Foron du Milieu. This was quite steep and muddy from recent rain. If I do this route again I wouldn't go down this path, but rather climb up from the col to where there's another path marked on the French map which contours round to meet the main path above Foron d'en Haut. That way you don't lose so much height.
The main path up to the Col de Foron is straightforward, if a bit of a climb. Then it's another 10 minutes up to the Col de Chalune, and another climb up to the peak. I haven't posted any photos of the view from the top because none of them would do it justice. The 360 degree panorama is stunning.
Return to the Col de Chalune, and head down the main path towards the Chalet Blanc but use the GPS to find the little path to the right (on OSM but not on the French map) which eventually leads up to the Col de Vésinaz. We saw a marmot scampering across the rocks there.
The final path down from the col to the car park is delightful.
It follows the usual route up to the Chalet Blanc, but passes to the right of the houses. The track from there to the Col de la Bolire isn't on OpenStreetMap but is on the French IGN 25000 map (Bonneville), and is clearly visible contouring round the hillside. It's worth checking for flocks of sheep with protecting dogs which may well block your progress.
After the Col de la Bolire we headed down the path doing down to the Foron du Milieu. This was quite steep and muddy from recent rain. If I do this route again I wouldn't go down this path, but rather climb up from the col to where there's another path marked on the French map which contours round to meet the main path above Foron d'en Haut. That way you don't lose so much height.
The main path up to the Col de Foron is straightforward, if a bit of a climb. Then it's another 10 minutes up to the Col de Chalune, and another climb up to the peak. I haven't posted any photos of the view from the top because none of them would do it justice. The 360 degree panorama is stunning.
Return to the Col de Chalune, and head down the main path towards the Chalet Blanc but use the GPS to find the little path to the right (on OSM but not on the French map) which eventually leads up to the Col de Vésinaz. We saw a marmot scampering across the rocks there.
The final path down from the col to the car park is delightful.
Waypoints
River
5,098 ft
Panorama
Mountain hut
Photo
Intersection
Information point
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