Grand Mont via the Rognoux mountain pastures

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in the opposite direction to the description. It is a magnificent route with an exceptional view of Mont Blanc.
When you arrive at the foot of the Forclaz ski lift, look for a metal hut on a hillock to find the path and the signpost marked at the three-way junction (marked 3 on the description) directly behind it.
We took advantage of the exceptional weather by completing the circular tour of the lake via the footbridge and the sunny western shore.
On this exceptionally beautiful autumn Sunday, there weren't many people on this hike.

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Date of your route : Sep 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent route, beautiful weather, 2°C at the start,
Quite a long hike, but no technical difficulties or endurance challenges.
A few gentle slopes allow you to recover.
Stable ground that is easy to descend, especially in the last 400 metres of elevation gain, with rocks and stones providing steps that make the ascent and descent easier.
Mont Blanc in the background and a 360° view.
In short, a magnificent hike, which I would have classified as moderately difficult just because of its length.
Thanks to the Visorando tracker who did a great job and created a route that accurately reflects the reality of the terrain.

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Date of your route : Sep 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circular hike that we completed via the Tempête lakes and Col de la Louze
The climb up to the Grand Mont is visible. There are lots of cairns here and there, but the route isn't very reliable.

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Date of your route : Jul 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike starting from the Grand Mont chairlift.
Right from the start, there are views of Mont Blanc.
The trail is well marked until you reach the mountain refuge.
After that, it becomes more difficult and cairns are often the only markers.
A few late snowfields are scattered along the route, which can make the final ascent difficult.
But from the summit, the view is exceptional, particularly of Mont Blanc and the Vanoise (Mont Pourri, Gébroulaz glacier, Dôme de Chasseforêt, etc.), as well as the surrounding mountain ranges.

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Date of your route : Aug 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An exceptionally beautiful hike, but one that has to be earned!
The trail passes through varied landscapes: undergrowth, mountain pastures, high-altitude grasses and finally rocky terrain (you have to scramble a little in places) interspersed with snowfields.
Each section has its own charm, but the higher you climb, the more magnificent it becomes, culminating in a spectacular view!

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Date of your route : Jul 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Following a comment from a VisioRandonneur user, alternative route via the Col de la Louze. Magnificent view of the lake and Mont Blanc. Steep climb from the pass to point 5. Yellow markings to the summit (cross and antennas). Return via the mountain pastures. Very beautiful hike, the view is worth the effort.

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Date of your route : Jun 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In fact, it was difficult to find a guidebook with GPS tracking for a circular route via Grand Mont.
We had to combine two maps to do it, including this one through the mountain pastures, but I did it downhill.
Although they say it's dangerous going downhill and that you have to follow the cairns carefully, it's impossible to go wrong.
At the end of June, there was snow one kilometre before the summit. Equipped with crampons, we reached the summit more easily.
The trail is good, well marked in the mountain pastures, starting in the woods with a steep climb to warm up.
From the refuge, you will follow the ski lifts and then head straight into a valley before turning onto a very steep climb and seeing the summit further ahead as you descend and make one last climb to the cross.
But after all this effort, you will be richly rewarded.
Allow 3 hours for the ascent.
I recommend doing the circular route by climbing up to the Col de la Louze, taking a detour to Lac des Tempêtes, returning to the pass to take the path that leads to Grand Mont, and descending via this route (Alpages du Rognoux).

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