Le Mont Lachat via Le Suet

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The departure after Suet requires attention to spot the yellow dots or lines

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Date of your route : Aug 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

Today, I completed this off-the-beaten-track route and have very fond memories of it. However, this hike does have a few difficulties (mainly after Le Suet) and I would only recommend it to experienced hikers:

• Some rough sections,
• Orientation is not always very clear (a few scattered yellow markings and fairly regular cairns help). Note that the route shown just after Le Suet could, in my opinion, be more precise (as it is a straight line).

NB: I did not understand why the route descends after the 1906 m peak in order to join the lower path leading to Mont Lachat Est (an issue already raised by others).

Kind regards

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Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a demanding hike due to the steep gradient over a short distance on the climb up to Suet. Follow the few yellow markings carefully on the long traverse, which includes descents and ascents that are not easy to spot. There are lots of edelweiss, especially on the scree slope towards Lachat. The climb up to the cross requires sure footing!
The descent to the starting point is very steep at first, then more gentle until you reach the Milk and Bouse farm.
A beautiful hike overall, requiring strong thighs and calves.
Total elevation gain = 1,235 m
Thanks to its designer.

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Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Admittedly, the views are magnificent, but the long trek across the sharp limestone pavement between Le Suet and Le Lachat left me feeling more like it was an unnecessary hardship just to complete a circular route than an enjoyable technical challenge...
Should this have been indicated more clearly at the top of the description? For an experienced hiker, it's not difficult, but it's certainly not pleasant for everyone.
In my opinion, it's not worth it. Just do the two summits independently as a round trip.

We had no problem finding the markings (which turn red and then red/yellow) where the GPS route is. This means that the elevation gain was more like +1000m.

The only consolation was a few beautiful bouquets of edelweiss shortly before reaching the path that climbs to Lachat (after the place where the author lost it according to the GPS track).

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Date of your route : May 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb route! Magnificent scenery in the Aravis mountains, particularly the bauges.
Not many people, technical sections, good elevation and an exceptional atmosphere throughout.
An excellent route, but one that is best suited to experienced hikers.

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Date of your route : Oct 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Do this solo in windy weather. The markings/signposts up to Le Suet are spot on. Then, to head towards the ridge, it's fairly well signposted, except from the first vertiginous passage, where the yellow signs indicated to go down and then nothing... Being alone and with a specific time to keep to, I decided to go off-piste to descend to the Suet hut, where I took the path leading to the summit of Mont Lachat. I then resumed the route of this hike via Le Mont. A very enjoyable hike. Unfortunately, the tracks on the ridge are not always visible (on my own, I couldn't afford to go hunting for arrows ^-^)

I loved the climb up to Le Suet! But both going up and down, the rockfall is quite dangerous and frequent. My walking poles were a great help!

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed this hike, which isn't particularly difficult.
You just have to keep your eyes open to follow the signs.
I found that, contrary to what is written on the left and right, it is quite easy to follow the signs. I was pleasantly surprised.
However, I think it's a shame to have to descend from the ridge at an altitude of 1,906 metres to reach the lower trail.
The path continues, it's clearly visible, and leads directly below the summit... (that's what I did), I can share the route if anyone is interested.
It's a circular that's well worth the effort... and the view of the Aravis is fantastic...

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Date of your route : Aug 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful climb through the forest (quite steep) to Le Suet, magnificent view. Le Suet hut is very interesting. After that, the suggested route along the ridge is difficult to find. We continued to follow the red/yellow markings all the way instead of turning off and going back down halfway as indicated, as it was impossible to find the trail. The end of the trail is quite dizzying and a little dangerous in my opinion. Then, the climb to Le Lachat is of little interest, especially as it is followed by a looong descent over rocks. So I give 5/5 for the first half of the hike and the end, but the middle section was a bit tedious. Recommendation, especially if you have children: from Le Suet, descend towards the Suet hut and turn off at the hut to follow the lower path.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I didn't go up to Suet, I went from the Suet hut (point 1) directly to point 3.
I think that saved me from the difficult part.
Lots of chamois.
Magnificent view from point 4.

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Date of your route : Jul 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note that if the map is old, the route is not shown.
The new maps are more up to date, although some sections do not appear.
Follow the yellow and then red markings (in the direction of Lachat to Suet) to create a circular route.

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A very beautiful hike along the ridge, best done in good weather to enjoy the panoramic views along the way. The trail is exposed with little shade, but a light breeze helps to make the intense summer heat more bearable. This is a fairly long hike with some more technical sections on the sharp limestone pavement. Be sure to follow the trail closely, as it is sometimes difficult to see and you could get lost on the sharp limestone pavement. It's a shame... or maybe not? ... that the markings haven't been updated. Definitely worth doing!

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Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike with a few technical sections but absolutely magnificent: stunning scenery, extraordinary views. Some sections require careful attention to the route.
A must-do!

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Date of your route : Jul 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike off the beaten track. Be careful to follow the markings, which are sometimes faint. Done during a heatwave with no shade on the crossing. A few cool breezes on the ridge were very welcome. The hike is no longer marked on maps, hence the old markings on the ground, but it is still interesting. Requires a bit of training!

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Date of your route : Jun 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The difficulty, as experienced by my friends and family, is the steepness of the slope, which is tough going on the way up but especially on the way down. Be careful not to injure yourself when you're tired on the way back.
But the view from the top is magnificent.
A must-do, with a little training.

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Date of your route : Aug 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike done in reverse one afternoon (first Mont Lachat, then towards Le Suet).
very few people, magnificent scenery (view of the Aravis and approaching storms)
one small downside: I wanted to do the section between Mont Lachat and Le Suet using the IGN map route rather than the route on this circuit, which is a little lower than the route on this circuit
this section requires careful attention as the markings are barely visible. I don't know if it's clearer higher up, but I just wanted to warn you
i was paying so much attention to the markings that I almost missed the chamois and a few marmots that were 50 metres away!

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