Mont Charvet from Le Grand-Bornand

From Le Grand-Bornand, follow the Bouchet valley (Route de la Vallée du Bouchet) towards Les Troncs. As you leave Les Plans, a fork in the road indicates the Col des Annes on the left. Continue to the right of a charming little chapel on the Route de Lormay. After about 800 m, a sign on the right, just in front of a shed, indicates the start of the hike.
N.B. You can park 50 m further along the road, near the Bombardelle Alpage Lodge.

(S/E) With your back to Mont Lachat de Châtillon, take a path and cross the Le Borne stream via a wide wooden bridge. At the crossroads immediately ahead, go straight on and follow a path through the forest. The path is steep and can be slippery in wet weather. At an altitude of around 1,300 metres, pass a wooden cross and take a sharp left turn.

(1) Further up, at a fork, turn left towards the Refuge de la Bombardellaz. The path quickly levels out and the climb becomes gentler (note Mont Lachat emerging through the trees on the left).

(2) At the intersection, continue straight ahead (north-east). Then turn right (south) to reach Pierre Marquée.

(3) Follow the path to the left towards the Bombardellaz Refuge and Chalets (yellow and red markings).

(4) Pass in front of the refuge and continue north towards the chalets of the same name.

(5) At the first chalet, turn right towards Combe de Charvet (a sign warns that the route is not marked from this point onwards). Begin the climb with Mont Charvet in your sights, flanked on the left by Pointe Percée. The path leaves the mountain pastures and crosses a sharp limestone pavement, which you leave on your left.

(6) At an altitude of approximately 1,715 metres, at a fork marked by a simple cairn, turn left (north-east). Cross the bottom of the Combe de la Grande Forclaz and join the Combe du Mont Charvet.

(7) Climb up the combe heading east-southeast or east. At an altitude of 1976 metres, you will reach a rock marked in red with "Mt. Charvet".

(8) Turn right (ignore the red arrow pointing left) and continue up the valley on a grassy path. Heading southwest, go around the Petite Miaz on the right.

(9) Pass at the foot of Petite Miaz (on the left) and Mamule (on the right), continue eastwards and pass at the foot of an imposing cirque-pierrier located at the foot of Mont Fleuri. The path leaves Petite Miaz on the left and ends abruptly at a nameless grassy pass at the foot of the rocky southern slope of Mont Charvet.

(10) The climb, marked by sporadic red markings on the rocks, then becomes decidedly aerial. The steep and rocky terrain requires sure footing (avoid in rainy weather; watch out for falling rocks). Climb a four-metre-high chimney (not particularly difficult, with good handholds) to reach the summit (panoramic view) with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, including the Sallanches and Chamonix valleys, with Mont Blanc in the background, and the Confins and Grand-Bornand valleys. Pointe Percée comes into view in the foreground, almost within touching distance.

(11) The descent is via the north-west slope, following the same sporadic red markings. The path and direction are obvious. Keep heading towards the Chalets de la Bombardellaz, which are visible all along the way. Quickly swap the rocky slope descending from the summit for a long grassy ridge that leads to the starting point of the circular route. The descent down this slope requires some care...

(8) The return journey is then via the same route as on the way up, via the Bomberdellaz refuge, to the starting point (S/E).

(S/E) Unlike the more traditional route to the Charvet valley and summit, which starts from the very busy Vallée des Confins, the route we have chosen will be appreciated by those seeking peace and quiet (at the cost of an additional 350 m of elevation gain).

(3) There is also an unmarked trail, which is quieter but muddy in wet weather, through the mountain pastures. This shortcut can be taken by turning immediately left after the signpost with arrows pointing towards Pierre Marquée: it avoids passing by the refuge, allowing you to reach the Chalets de la Bombardellaz oratory directly below, on the mountainside.

(5). There is a water source at the Chalets de la Bombardellaz, so fill up your water bottles as there will be no other source.

(10) Mont Charvet. The icing on the cake, and an unlikely reminder that traditions converge "at the top", is the beautiful summit cross adorned with the bright colours of a few small Tibetan prayer flags.