Le Linleu from Sevan

Departure from Sevan, reached by 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.

Directional signs are present at important locations. They are recent and in excellent condition from the start (S/E) to the Col de l'Outanne (4). After that, either the sign is on the ground or it has been completely removed (situation in August 2018). At the start of the hike, there are also a few signposts with double yellow arrows.

(S/E) Take the track heading north-east that climbs up the road towards the Col de Braitaz via the Col de Recon (do not follow the signs for "Le Linla 1h40"; the corresponding path, which climbs up to the left of the track, will be the way back). Pass under the Braitaz chairlift line. Ignore a path coming from the left (signpost) and turn right onto the track that climbs gently into the forest.

At the signpost "Sous le Col de Recon", stay on the track that turns left in a hairpin bend. After a few dozen metres, you will see the summit of Linleu on your left and the route leading to it. You will quickly reach the Col de Recon.

(1) Continue on the track towards Braite and the Col de Conche (yellow Swiss signposts). Pass under the ski lift line, with the gantry bearing the "turn around" sign on the left side of the track. At the fork that follows immediately, ignore the track that descends to the left and continue straight ahead to reach the Col de Braitaz.

(2) Go around the arrival area of the Braitaz chairlift on the right. Then walk along the bar-restaurant and a hut, keeping both on your right. Follow a fairly flat path until you reach a junction with a path coming from the left (signpost).

(3) Continue straight ahead towards the Col d'Outanne. Cross a small scree slope at the foot of the Aiguille de Braitaz. Then climb up a steep but well-marked path, as close as possible to a rock face. This will take you to the Col d'Outanne (signpost across the path).

(4) Head west on the trail that crosses the top of a grassy valley and quickly arrives at the Col de Sevan.

(5) Turn right and take the path that climbs up the ridge. Follow several switchbacks, then go around the rock faces on the left, in a small corridor where the path remains well marked. At the end of this corridor, turn right (east). Then turn left and follow a few switchbacks to reach the ridge below the summit (cross).

(6) Follow the ridge to the left to quickly reach the summit (boundary marker). Be very careful due to the steep drops to the north.

(7) The descent starts along the same route as the ascent. Descend to the Col de Sevan.

(5) Turn left to join the path to the Col d'Outanne.

(4) Turn right towards the Col de la Conche (Swiss name for the Col de Braitaz). After crossing the small scree slope again, reach the junction of the two paths (sign).

(3) Leave the path you took on the way up and turn right, heading downhill towards Sevan (south-southeast). You will come out onto an alpine track. Follow it to the right (do not cross the Braitaz chairlift line). Pass a flat area marking the site of the former Chalets de Braitaz (now demolished).

(8) Just before the track starts to climb again, look for a trail on the left that descends into a small valley and passes at the foot of a peak on the right (elevation 1799). Descend into the valley on a faint trail, parallel to but at a good distance from the Braitaz chairlift line. Keep to the right to pass above a cluster of spruce trees and rejoin a well-marked trail. Continue downhill and you will reach Sevan ahead (S/E).

Hiking boots and equipment required. No water source identified. In summer, on Saturdays and Sundays, there is a bar-restaurant at Col de Braitaz (2).

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Warning:
It is recommended not to venture beyond the summit (7) towards the west, despite the viewpoint indicated on the IGN map: the north face of Linleu is characterised by steep drops and, in the event of a misstep, there is a 400-metre fall..

Regulations:
This route crosses the Cornettes de Bise nature reserve. To avoid disturbing wildlife and preserve its habitat, please respect the regulations in force. Dogs must be kept on a leash. The following are prohibited: picking or collecting plants, littering, motor vehicles. Respect the herds in summer and the work of the alpine farmers. More information: Protection Biotope (APPB) - Pays d'Evian Vallée d'Abondance

Short alternative route on the way up:
At the Col de Recon (1), you can leave the track and turn right onto a wide grassy path (red arrow on a white background). Climb between two rows of trees. At a flat section, turn left into the forest and follow a narrower path that is mostly flat. You will come out 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, arrival point of a ski lift) and rejoin the main route.

Alternative descent:
Off-trail variation (not difficult but only to be attempted in good visibility) - At the Col de Sevan (5), do not take the path that crosses the top of the valley but descend directly down it. Leave the path on your left and head south-east towards the entrance to a gully with a spruce tree on each side. Make switchbacks in the mountain pasture or a large arc to the left. Cross a wet area and find a trail that descends the gully. At the exit of the gully, as the path widens, bear right (south-southeast) onto the slope. Cross a track and continue descending, keeping the summit marked 1799 on the IGN map on your right. Reach the signpost (8). Then bear right (due south) and follow the main route again.

Combination with another hike:
You can combine the ascent of Linleu with that of Haut Sex, further south, for a beautiful route along the border ridge. First follow the route described on visorando for the hike "Le Haut Sex from Sevan" from the same starting point (S/E) (Sevan Devant) to the Col de Braitaz, its point (7). Then follow the route for the "Le Linleu" hike from its starting point (2). Allow an extra hour and a half and a total elevation gain of around 800 metres.

Recommendations:
The Sevan, Recon and Braitaz mountain pastures are grazed by livestock: dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
This route crosses the Cornettes de Bise nature reserve. The following are prohibited: picking and gathering plants; leaving any rubbish behind; motor vehicles; campfires; wild camping and bivouacking.
See detailed regulations: Biotope Protection (APPB) - Pays d'Evian Vallée d'Abondance

Hike completed three times by the author, the first on 26 October 2015 and the last on 15 August 2018.

Place names:
- Le Linleu (name used here and on the IGN map) is also known as "Le Lenla" (locally) or Mont Linla (also on the IGN map). Linleu derives from the Old French word "Leu " (wolf).
- For the same pass (2), we find "Col de Braitaz" in France and "Col de Conche" in Switzerland. We also find the spelling "Braite" on Swiss road signs (orally, "Braitaz" is pronounced "Braite").

From the summit, there is a superb 360° panorama (from left to right for each direction):
- To the south: Dents du Midi, Tour Salière, Mont Ruan and, in the background, Aiguille Verte and Mont Blanc.
- To the south-east: the Valais Alps, including the Dent de Morcles, the Matterhorn and the Grand Combin.
- To the east and north-east: the Vaud Alps, including the Rochers de Naye, the Tour d'Aï and the Diablerets, as well as the eastern tip of Lake Geneva and the Rhône Valley upstream.
- To the north-west: Les Cornettes de Bise.
- To the west: the Abondance Valley, dominated on the left by Mont de Grange and on the right by Mont Chauffé, with Lake Geneva and the Jura Mountains in the background.