In the forests and mountain pastures around Vallorcine

The starting point is the car park at Buet station near Vallorcine. It can be reached via the D1506 from Chamonix via Argentière and the Col des Montets or from Switzerland via Martigny, the Col de la Forclaz and Le Châtelard.

(S/E) Pass the station and walk 200 metres, then turn right under the railway line. After 100 metres, turn right again and then immediately left.

(1) Take a small path going uphill into the forest for 150 metres.

(2) Turn right and continue uphill until you reach a fork 300 metres further on.

(3) Keep right and continue climbing through the forest for 2.2 km, passing under the Vallorcine cable car and joining a beautiful forest road.

(4) Turn left and follow this road downhill for 1 km.

(5) Leave the road and take a beautiful path on the right and continue on this path until you reach the Belle Place chairlift. Follow the chairlift downhill for 50m.

(6) Take the path on the right until you reach the barn at "La Grand'Jeur". Continue straight ahead for 1.6 km until you reach the barns at Catogne.

(7) At the crossroads, go slightly up to the right of the barns on a path that curves sharply to the right to pass under the Massif de la Croix de Fer.

(8) Continue along the path to descend to the Col de Balme.

(9) 100 m before the refuge, turn right.

(10) Pass the source of the Arve and follow the path to the Plan des Reines ski lift.

(11) 50m before the ski lift, at the fork, turn left and continue down this path until you reach the Route des Alpages.

(12) Take this road on the right for 300m until you reach the Col des Posettes.

(13) Then take the path on the left that climbs up and immediately take the path on the far right towards the Aiguillette des Posettes. Climb for 1.1 km until you reach the Croix des Posettes, which is 100 m to the right of the path.

(14) Turn back and take the path on the right. Follow the Crête des Frettes ridge, staying on the right-hand path, then descend to Le Chaleyre and finally to the D1506 road coming from Argentière.

(15) Do not follow the road but turn right onto the old Montets path, cross the car park and continue along this path to the Col des Montets.

(16) Cross the road and continue along the path that starts at the corner of the Chalet d'Accueil and runs alongside the D1506.

(17) Cross the road again and take the path that continues. After 50m, you will reach a large communal path that leads back behind the Buet station (S/E).

There are no difficulties other than the length of the route, so we recommend setting off early.
Food is available at the Col de Balme refuge (please note that water is not free).

• The bivouac can bebooked here.