La Grande Jumelle
A not too busy hike up to a summit offering a vast panoramic view. A relatively challenging route with some aerial passages requesting a certain sense of itinerary at times. The beginning of the hikes passes through Tanay site and its lake.
Technical sheet No. 4098414
Calculated time: 7h00[?] 
Distance : 12.90 km
Vertical gain : 1,168 m
Vertical drop : 1,168 m
Highest point : 2,160 m
Lowest point : 1,083 m 
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Areas :
Location : 
Today's forecast : 
Description
Parking available at the place called Le Flon's converted car-park.at the top of Miex village. You can take Miex road from Vouvry, a commune located between Le Bouveret and Monthey.
(D) At the far end of the car-park, take the ‘‘chemin des chevriers’’ trail to the right heading towards Tanay (sometimes spelt Taney). Most of the time under forest cover, the trail heads upwards with a few bends sticking to an overall north-west direction. You'll come across a paved road which also leads up to Tanay. A bit further up, you'll find a road, take it to the left over a few metres leaving it at a turn and crossing over a small dip at the end of which you'll find the road again. Take the road to the left until you get to the pass which leads to Tanay.
(1) Stick to the road which heads slightly downhill with a beautiful view of Tanay Lake to the right-hand side. Once you reach the "heart" of the hamlet, you'll come across "Le Grammont" restaurant.
(2) Take the trail heading west towards Au de Tanay (sign). After a couple of hundred metres, leave the trail to follow a small path to the left. Cross a river heading gently up the small valley along the right side of the river bank. After a few turns, you'll reach a trail.
(3) Take the trail to the left and keep heading west.
(4) Shortly before reaching old chalet ruins, take a trail which goes right at a sharp turn. Follow this trail which then steers left, passes in front of a chalet reaching a place called La Combe at the far end of a glacial cirque (small lake or pond depending on the season).
(5) Start the climb up the cirque's northern slope. There are only faint traces of the trail so you'll need to figure out the windy itinerary for yourself which on a very steep slope varying between grass and rhododendrons. You need to reach the north ridge heading right at the end (east), meaning towards La Grande Jumelle (if you go left, you head towards Gardy).
(6) Once you reach the ridge, head east. Get across the rocky outcrop with no real technical difficulty. Keep heading east on the rocky ridge with aerial passages at times. You'll then reach the summit.
(7) The trip back is the same way you came in on.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 1,083 m
1 : km 1.28 - alt. 1,433 m - Tanay site access pass
2 : km 2.09 - alt. 1,422 m - Hamlet uphill from the lake - Lac de Tanay
3 : km 3.81 - alt. 1,651 m - Junction with trail
4 : km 4.59 - alt. 1,772 m - Bifurcation
5 : km 5.59 - alt. 1,919 m
6 : km 6.31 - alt. 2,150 m - Lac Léman
7 : km 6.44 - alt. 2,154 m - Summit - Grande Jumelle (la)
D/A : km 12.9 - alt. 1,083 m
Useful Information
Allow for 3 to 4 hours hike to reach the summit without any stops.
"Alternative" -- To get to Tanay, you can also take the paved road which starts near the car park (D) which the trail meets up with (see above). Vehicle access being strictly regulated, the road is not busy at all. The slope is steep weather you take the road or the trail.
Hiking gear and shoes a must.
Water available at Tanay, there's also food and refreshments and the opportunity to stay overnight.
A map is necessary (at least the one attached to this description). A compass is always handy... La Grande Jumelle is also called "Grande Séreu". However this typonym is barely used nowadays but can be found in certain documents.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
In the summer, you can swim in Tanay Lake as long as you can handle the low temperature, not above 15°...
Once you've left the trail (4), the hike runs through a fairly wild setting. Take advantage of a wide panoramic view over the Chablais peaks, Dents du Midi and Mont Blanc Mountain from the summit.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
