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Access: from Annemasse (Geneva), take the Blanche motorway, exit 21 (Fayet-Passy); follow signs for Passy and climb up to the Plateau d'Assy. Continue to Praz Coutant; at the exit of this hamlet, just before a large right-hand bend (wooden cross), leave the first vehicle in the car park below. Continue to Plaine-Joux. Drive through the hamlet of Plaine-Joux and then turn right (Chalet de la Réserve) towards Lac Vert, where you can park.
(S) From the car park (altitude approx. 1260 m), take the path that leaves to the left of the building and climb towards Le Châtelet. Turn right as soon as you can, then right again, to join the Route du Châtelet, which you follow to the right. Turn left just before the restaurant (signposted "Le Dérochoir"). The path climbs through the forest.
(1) At the first intersection, turn right (yellow sign for "Ayère – Col d'Anterne" on a rock). Cross Ayères des Rocs (1641m) and you will soon reach the beautiful hamlet of Ayères des Pierrières (1637m).
(2) At the exit of the hamlet, turn left (signposted for Le Dérochoir). The trail climbs slowly but surely, first on grassy slopes, then quickly, as the rocks become more numerous and the vegetation becomes sparser. Follow the red markings on the rocks. The path gradually approaches the rock faces and you can already see the gigantic scree slope of Le Dérochoir. Zigzag between the boulders to approach a rocky peak; the path is not always obvious (steep terrain) so follow the red markings carefully. You will reach a pass which you cross between the Fiz cliffs and the aforementioned peak.
(3) After climbing up a scree slope, you continue on almost flat ground. There are a few more rocky sections (some remaining snowfields) and you leave the gorge for less rugged terrain. You gain height and the path continues to the right on stony ground to the foot of the cliff. On the left, there is a superb view of the Pointe du Dérochoir.
We then begin the ascent of the Dérochoir. Although not difficult, this section still requires some caution, especially if the terrain is slippery; progress is made easier by metal handrails, ropes, a few ladders and metal steps. There is a beautiful view of the cliffs on the right, with the Marteau in the foreground and the Aiguille Verte in the distance. You reach the Passage du Dérochoir at 2,200 metres. The 360° panorama is fabulous: Grand Pré with the chalets of Sales in the distance, the Fiz, the Aiguille Verte, the Mont Blanc range, the Passy valley, the Beaufortain massif, the Aravis, the Pointe du Dérochoir, the Platé desert (the largest sharp limestone pavement in Europe), etc.
Continue a short distance along the ridge towards the Col de la Portette (marked on a rock). The trail gradually descends along the slopes, passing below the Pointe du Dérochoir. You can now see the Pointe de Platé, the Châteaux de Cran and the Col de la Portette in the distance. The path becomes less clear and you cross another scree slope; the red markings and cairns help you to "stay on course" through this rocky chaos. Pointe de Platé slowly comes into view. We encounter a few remaining patches of snow before arriving at La Portette (2,270 m). A final winding climb (not difficult but steep) brings us to Col de la Portette, at 2,354 m.
The view is splendid, especially of the Tête du Colonney, the Aiguille Rouge, the Laouchets, the Pointe de Sales, the Rochers des Fiz and the Aiguille Verte.
(4) We begin the descent on a steep path towards the Refuge de Platé (Chalets de Platé, 2032m), first over rocks, then grassy slopes, soon dotted with beautiful sharp limestone pavement. A short stop at the refuge is always welcome (light refreshments available).
(5) We set off again on flat ground towards the cliffs (signposted Plaine Joux); there is a beautiful view of Mont Blanc. The route then continues on a path that becomes very steep (descent of Les Égratz; a few small exposed sections). We cross a metal footbridge and the path continues along the side of the cliff; after a left-hand bend under a vault, the path descends more steeply in hairpin bends, into a very steep rocky gorge. You will come across some more wooded areas. Continue to a fork (at around 1400m), take the left-hand path and head for Torrent d'Ugine (1389m).
(6) Continue to the left (Plaine Joux). The path becomes monotonous and more or less flat. At the next fork, turn right towards Praz Coutant. After a fairly long descent, you will reach Croix de Praz Coutant at 1171m and return to the car park (E).
Take the first vehicle and drive back up to the Lac Vert car park.
, superb!
Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
Tourist office
Very difficult 
