Le Haut Sex from Sevan

Start from Sevan devant, reached via a small road that climbs steeply from La Chapelle-d'Abondance (follow the sign for "Lac d'Arvouin"). Parking at the end of the road.

No signposting
Signposts are present at key points. There are also a few signposts with double yellow arrows.

(S/E) Head north-east along the track that climbs up from the road, towards the Chalets du Mouet via Recon (signpost). Pass under the Braitaz chairlift line. Ignore a path coming from the left (signpost) and turn right onto the track that climbs gently through the forest.

(1) At a hairpin bend to the left, leave the track and take the path on the right towards the Chalets du Mouet (signposted); this is a steep climb on a well-marked path through the undergrowth. Cross a cattle fence, turn left (east) and continue on roughly level ground beneath the spruce trees (superb view of the Dents du Midi to the right). In more open terrain, head across and down a slight slope towards the Chalets du Mouet, which are clearly visible to the south-east.

(2) At the corner of the chalets, take a sharp left-hand bend towards the Col de Chétillon (signpost). Ignore a path that branches off very quickly to the right. At the next fork, take the path on the right, which is steeper, and begin a steep but short climb. At the top of the hill, at another fork, turn sharply right towards two spruce trees flanking the path. You will soon reach a hillock near the Col de Chénillon, situated slightly below on the right (Swiss signposts, yellow).

White-Red-White markings
We are on the border ridge and this is the three-stripe marking typical of mountain trails in Switzerland. Note that on the descent from the summit, the markings are (by mistake?) red-white-red.

(3) With your back to the Swiss signposts, you will see two paths branching off to the left: the one furthest left is flat, the other leads uphill. Do not take either of these paths, but head straight ahead (bearing 330 to be precise) onto the narrow ridge path (two markers at the start of this path). Continue up a steep climb with a few hairpin bends beneath the spruce trees to quickly reach the summit.

(4) From the summit, head due west, staying on the ridge. Further on, the narrow path is joined by a wider track coming from the left. Continue north-west along the narrow path, which becomes much steeper. After several steep hairpin bends, you will reach the Col de Recon.

(5) Take the track opposite (north-east) which climbs gently towards Braite / Col de la Conche (signposted). After just a few metres, leave the track and take the wide grassy path on the right (red arrow on a white background). Climb between two rows of trees. At a flat section, veer left into the forest and follow a narrower path on roughly level ground. You’ll emerge onto a grassy ridge with the forest on your left and a beautiful view of the Vaud Alps on your right. Reach the Col de Braitaz (yellow signs, top of a ski lift).

No signposting

(6) Do not cross the ski lift line; instead, head down to the left towards the gantry bearing the ‘U-turn’ sign, at the edge of the piste you left at the Col de Recon. Cross the piste, head between two rows of spruce trees to the left of the gantry, and descend to a path visible from the piste. Follow this path to the right (west). Ignore a path that climbs off to the right and pass a flat area marking the site of the former Chalets de Braitaz (now demolished).

(7) Just before the track starts to climb again, look for a track on the left that descends a small valley and passes at the foot of a hilltop on the right-hand side (elevation 1799 on the IGN map). Descend into the valley on a faint path, running parallel to but at a good distance from the Braitaz chairlift line. Keep to the right to pass over a clump of spruce trees and rejoin a well-marked path. Continue downhill and reach Sevan ahead (S/E).

Hiking boots and equipment required.

In summer,
- Water, toilets and refreshment bar at Les Chalets du Mouet (2).
- Bar-restaurant open on Saturdays and Sundays at Col de Braitaz (6).

A 1:25,000 map is essential (at the very least the one accompanying this description). A compass is useful.

Warnings:
- In wet conditions, the descent path from the summit (between (4) and (5)) is slippery and requires a degree of caution.
- Between the Col de Chétillon (3) and the Col de Braitaz (5), the eastern and northern slopes of the ridge feature sheer drops. The route described here is not particularly vertiginous. However, it is recommended not to venture onto the right-hand side of the ridge and to remain cautious.
- Between the Col de Braitaz (6) and the summit of the small valley (7), the paths are poorly marked and following the route requires careful attention. You must keep heading west and cross the chairlift line only once. Look out for the 1799-metre peak, a small rocky outcrop topped with spruce trees, and turn south at its base.

Alternative descent route:
At the Col de Recon (5), it is possible to descend directly: turn left and follow the track downwards, pass the hairpin bend taken on the way up (1) and continue downhill to the starting point.

Combining with another hike:
You can combine the ascent of the Haut Sex with that of the Linleu, further north, for a beautiful route along the border ridge. First follow this route to the Col de Recon (5). Then follow the route described on Visorando for the hike“Le Linleu from Sevan” from itsstarting point (1) back to the same starting point (S/E). Allow an extra 1½ hours and a total elevation gain of around 800m.

This hike has been completed twice by the author, the first time on 24 October 2015 and the second on 14 August 2016.

Place names:
- The words "Sex" or "Saix", derived from the Latin "Saxum" (rock), are common in place names in the Chablais region, in both France and Switzerland, to designate various peaks.
- Depending on the maps or guidebooks, the summit of this hike has three different names: “Haut Sex” (used here), “Pointe du Haut Saix” and “Pointe de Recon”.
- Similarly, for the same pass (6), it is known as "Col de Braitaz" in France and "Col de Conche" in Switzerland. The spelling "Braite" is also found on Swiss signposts (in spoken French, "Braitaz" is pronounced "Braite").

From the summit, a superb 360° panorama:
- To the south: Grand Combin, Dents du Midi, Tour Salière and Mont Ruan, Mont Blanc; below, the village of Châtel and the upper part of the Vallée d’Abondance.
- To the west: the Abondance Valley, dominated on the left by Mont de Grange and on the right by Mont Chauffé.
- To the north: on the left, the Cornettes de Bise; on the right, the peaks overlooking the Rhône Valley and a few glimpses of Lake Geneva.
- To the east: the Rhône Valley and the Vaud Alps, including the Tour d’Aï and Les Diablerets.