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Access: from Annemasse (Geneva), take the A40 motorway towards Lyon, then the A41 towards Annecy, then exit 17 Annecy-le-Vieux (toll); continue towards Thônes. As soon as you see the sign for "Dingy Saint-Clair", turn left and drive through the village. Continue to La Blonnière; at the exit of this hamlet, follow the road to the terminus where you park at Le Saugy: 1,046 m.
(S/E) From the car park, take the path that branches off to the right into the meadow (signposted "Col du Pertuis"); on your right is the Lachat mountain and further south, the Rocher du Château Folliet. After a short climb, the path veers left along a row of trees. There is then a slight descent and, after passing some ruins of old houses, the climb begins on a track.
Pass "Le Châtelet" and continue to follow the Col du Pertuis signs. Shortly after walking alongside a river, take the path that branches off to the left (slightly below the end of the track). The path becomes quite steep and rocky in places, winding through a fairly wild forest. The Parmelan cliffs gradually come into view (some beautiful climbing routes, notably the Pilier des Chercheurs d'Or – Voie de l'escalier – and Char à Banc; some beautiful characteristic faults). You will come across a track which you follow to the left, to the end (a few hundred metres).
From the "Sous le Col" signpost (1465 m), continue towards the pass, which you will reach fairly quickly after passing through a gorge (at this time of year, there are often some patches of snow left).
(1) From the pass at 1565 m, continue for another hundred metres or so across the mountain pasture (in the distance, you can see the Tête de l'Arpettaz and Tête Ronde), before climbing steeply to the left, staying on the grass. As soon as you see a gap in the spruce trees, climb towards the cliffs. The terrain is very steep; on the right, you can see the Montagne de Sous-Dîne, the Roche Parnal, the Montagne des Frêtes and the Jallouvre, among others.
As you approach the foot of the cliffs, head left until you reach a gap that will allow you to climb more easily to the summit ridge.
(2) Then head north, climbing gradually, following the rocks and pine trees, which make the climb quite enjoyable. You will soon reach a promontory with a cross. We continued for a short distance towards Parmelan
(3) but turned back at the foot of a new rocky mound, at about 1,600 metres; however, you can still walk a certain distance along the ridges without any special equipment. Although not very high, the ridges offer spectacular views: the Parmelan cliffs, the Jura, Annecy (with Mont Veyrier, Mont Baron, Mont Baret and Semnoz), part of Les Bauges, the Chalet du Pertuis below, the Aravis, Bargy-Les Bornes, etc.
The return journey follows the same route in reverse. However, caution is advised on the ridge, as there are a few small exposed sections (S/E).
). I don't know if this gap was the right one because I found the climb particularly slippery in the tall grass, especially as you have to climb with your hands. Easy is not the word I would have used to describe reaching the ridges. And what can I say about the descent... But there may be another easier route, though I didn't find it. Once you reach the top, however, it's worth the effort, and the going is easier among the pine trees and rocks. A real change of scenery.
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Difficult 
Easy 
