Laisonnay Circular – Col du Palet – Col Grassaz

(S/E) From the Laisonnay d’en Bas car park (end of the accessible road), continue on level ground towards Laisonnay d’en Haut. Before reaching the hamlet, cross the bridge over the Py torrent.

(1) Enter the village, ignoring the track that branches off to the left; the path will soon wind its way between the houses and begin to climb. The path initially runs parallel to the Doron de Champagny, then, after a few hairpin bends through a field of boulders, rejoins the track.

(2) Take the track by turning right. Continue climbing; on several occasions, you can cut across the track’s hairpin bends by taking very stony shortcuts. This will take you to a junction just before the 2,000 m mark.

(3) Continue along the track to the left; to the right, the other track leads to the Refuge de la Glière. Either via the track or the shortcuts, reach the chapel overlooking the (dry) Lake Glière.

(4) After a short walk (optional) across the lake plateau and along the stream, return to the vicinity of the chapel.
Note: the footbridge crossing the stream is out of service in 2019.
Take the path that climbs above the track, heading north-west. After a series of small hairpin bends and just before crossing the track, the path joins the track for good at an altitude of 2,200 m.

(5) Turn right onto the track and follow it for a long way until you reach a junction.

(6) Turn right towards the Col du Palet. Gradually, the track turns into a path which, after a long stretch, reaches the Col de la Croix des Frêtes.

(7) From this pass, head towards the Col du Palet along an almost level path.

(8) From the Col du Palet, start the descent towards the refuge. Head towards the western shore of Lac de Grattaleu and go slightly past the lake to reach a junction.

(9) Leave the^GR® 5 here and head left towards the Col de la Grassaz. Follow a route with no significant elevation gain to reach a junction near the Chalet des Aimes.

(10) Start the climb to the left, towards the Col de la Grassaz, passing Lake Verdet on the way.

(11) From the pass, head downhill to return to the path taken on the way there.

(6) Head straight ahead, following the same route as on the way there, to return to the car park (S/E)

On the return journey, keep your eyes peeled from (11)