Haute-Savoie: Pas du Roc – Col des Glières

On our first route through Haute-Savoie, a French border territory in the southwestern part of Switzerland. The organization, a 10 by the way!, Belongs to our friends at Papillon Adventure.

This route is a linear route. It is not common in our outings, but we did it that way. Both the start and the start have access to the same road so it is easy to load or retrieve the support car.

We started from the Pont de Pierre car park on the D55 road. Right where you can see the majestic waterfall of the Nont des Brassets. We walk a few meters down the road and we already see the Pas du Roc path. With a large red sign that warns us that it is not suitable for people with vertigo. But honestly, unless you have a lot, there is no danger since the aerial steps are guided with chain on the rock to help you.

The climb is steady without a break, but easy to do and follow. They take advantage of the constant zetas to gain height and you arrive at the famous rock pass. It is a cut in the side of the rock that is guided by a chain, as I have commented before. It is not dangerous since the passage area is about two meters. At some point, some planks that act as a ladder help us to facilitate the ascent. Finally, our first stopping point, after two crossings by wooden bridges of the Nont des Brassets over its cascading fall, we arrive at the viewpoint marked Belvédère du Pas du Roc, at 1,270 meters above sea level.

We continue the route along the Pas du Roc path in the direction of Champ Laitier. On the way we go through an arch, a hole in the rock, and we continue up to Source, a crossroads. Continuing our path we arrive at the beautiful valley of Champlaitier, at 1,360 meters above sea level. At this point we leave the path turning to the right to go through the Passarelle des Brassets, a small footbridge acting as a bridge over the river.

We continue the ascent until we reach the point of the Montagne des Frêtes where we enter its Biological Reserve. It is a small language of this mountain that we will cross transversely and that the posters ask us to be especially respectful.

At the end of the reserve, the descent begins and we arrive at the beautiful viewpoint of the Commanderie at 1,550 meters above sea level. The highest point of the day. From here we can see the Glières plateau. We mark this point to enjoy it while we eat something.

Then we go down to the Col des Glières at 1,440 meters above sea level and to the National Monument of the Resistance. And we continue along the track of the Rural Route de la Métralière. Where along its length we can see images that leave us memories of the history of this place. Like this one from The Spanish Resistance in Haute-Savoie (1942-1944).

We keep going until we reach Le Plan at 1,390 meters above sea level, where we turn right and see our final destination. Chez Régina’s café-restaurant.