Start at La Fétiuère. Parking on the side of the road leading to Pré-Richard from Bernex via Trossy.
Directional signs at major intersections
There are also a few isolated yellow markers between points (S/E) and (2), and some rare, old red and white markers between points (2) and (4).
(S/E) Start at the foot of the bar-restaurant, following the signs for "Chalet et Dent d'Oche rive gauche". Take a stony path that climbs steeply, winding through the forest. Cross the Ugine on a wooden bridge and climb up opposite.
(1) At the T-junction that appears shortly afterwards, turn right. At the next intersection, take the path on the left. Climb up this very steep, winding path and pass a sign indicating the Chalets d'Oche 500 m ahead (in horizontal distance; the actual distance is closer to 1 km). You will come out in a small valley. Climb up this valley, heading east. This will take you to the Chalets d'Oche.
(2) Continue east towards the Col de Planchamp and Lac de la Case (leave the route for the Dent Dent d'Oche heading north). At the next sign, turn right towards Lac de la Case. Make a large right-left turn, pass a small sinkhole and you will reach Lac de la Case.
(3) Go around the lake, which is covered with vegetation, on the left. At the signpost, turn left towards Roc Château d'Oche and Col de Planchamp.
(4) A few metres after the signpost, turn right uphill (ignore the path to Col de Planchamp which descends opposite). Then climb steeply up a grassy ridge with steep drops on the left and right (take care).
Continue east on a narrow path above rocky outcrops on your right: the path is not vertiginous in itself, but do not stray from it under any circumstances; extreme caution is advised. Reach a small pass at the foot of a hillock on the right overlooking the Col des Portes d'Oche.
(5) Climb north on a path that winds through a vast pasture. Keep to the right to approach the summit ridge. Turn left to follow the ridge while staying below it. Pass in front of a small natural stone arch and climb up a short rocky corridor. At the exit, turn right and follow a few short switchbacks to reach the summit, where there are two small crosses, one wooden and one metal.
(6) The descent is via the same route. From the summit, aim for the small pass by locating a rectangle of stones on the hillock (the last trace of a ruined shelter).
(5) Take the path on the right (small cairn) that runs along the top of the rocky outcrops. At the bottom of the grassy ridge, ignore a path that branches off to the left and join the path to the Col des Portes d'Oche.
(4) At the fork, turn left towards Lac de la Case (do not follow the best-marked path that branches off to the right towards Col de Planchamp).
(3) Continue west and make a large loop to return to the Chalets d'Oche.
(2) Descend the valley towards the west. Ignore a fork to the left and pass the sign for Chalets d'Oche again at 500m, then descend very steeply.
(1) Turn left to reach the wooden bridge below (do not continue straight ahead despite the yellow sign indicating to do so).
(1) Continue along the steep stony path and return to the starting point (S/E).
An outing that has something for everyone. But for this view towards the Porte d'Oche, a little more effort could be made!