Le Reposoir - Refuge de la Combe

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Visorando prefers to guide hikers using a description and an extract from an IGN map rather than using signposts, which it has no control over. When answering this questionnaire, please focus your comments on the quality of the description and the route, without mentioning the signposts.

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Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The path through the Pétet chalets is not signposted at all. I did it on the way back: it's much longer and you go down a long way, then you have to climb back up again!!!

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Date of your route : Sep 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On Saturday, I climbed from Lathuile (you can park much closer in Mangellaz).
Warming up on the tarmac: the gradient is already 10%.
Despite the bright sunshine, it's not too hot in the woods and it's only once you reach the mountain pasture that the sun really warms you up.
A very pleasant climb, the only drawback being that you have to reach the wall to finally see the surroundings, particularly Lake Annecy. A 3-star panorama.
The Pas de la Combe may be impressive, but what a pleasure it is to see this panorama and also to measure the altitude difference we have just climbed.
Once you arrive at the refuge, a tasting is a must before setting off again for the summits.
The passage at the Croix du Roy is worth its weight in gold, as is reading the two sheets of paper. 5-star panorama.
We would love to stay for a few days, but it's already time to head back down. Take care on the Pas de la Combe, but after that it's a very pleasant descent.
Although Le Charbon seems to be quite busy, once you reach the "plateau", everyone goes their own way and you feel as if you are alone.

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Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with a view of Lake Annecy!
But be careful: follow point 2 carefully at the forest road, which you should not follow because the day after rain, there is a lot of mud in the undergrowth...

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, not difficult, with shade along most of the route. Several views of Lake Annecy. Please note that the start is actually 900 metres (15 minutes) before what is indicated in the description, at the "petit reposoir" car park (and not at the reposoir itself).
Excellent goat's cheese at the Combe refuge, not to be missed!

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Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route worth repeating. No problems with orientation. Very well signposted

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Date of your route : Jul 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike allows you to stop at the Combe refuge or continue on to the Pointe de Banc Plat. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Lake Annecy and La Tournette, and from the Combe refuge, you can see Mont Blanc. The refuge wardens are very friendly. We recommend the chocolate fondant, which the chef asked us to try as a test. It's DELICIOUS, but don't overdo it or the descent could be difficult.

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Date of your route : Nov 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent mountain outing, just as we like it: clean, rural, peaceful, beautiful views, and snow on the plateau.
But be careful: this route needs updating.
This route ends at the La Combe refuge, so if you want to return to your car, you will have to walk 12 km instead of 5.
You will not park at the indicated starting point of the hike but 1 km further down, where a barrier prevents cars from going up to the Restoir car park, which adds 2 km to the hike and 120 m of elevation gain.
On the way up, you must leave the route at WP2 Les Ailes du stream and follow the signs on the right.
For the return journey, I wanted to follow the VISO route in reverse. But at WP 3, nothing makes sense: the GPS and IGN have irreconcilably divorced, with WP3 already pointing to a brush-covered path on the left, while the real path is 200-300 metres further down. From there, a good piece of advice is to forget Visorando and rely on Google Maps and your GPS.
That said, it's a very beautiful hike

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Date of your route : Jan 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hello, according to information obtained from the Bauges Tourist Office, this hike should be avoided due to heavy snowfall! There is a very dangerous section where the path is carved into the rock. It is protected by bars, but this protection is non-existent in winter, as the snow rises above these bars!

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Date of your route : Sep 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the hike in the opposite direction, from the Refuge to Le Reposoir. This meant it was mainly downhill, so very easy. But in the other direction, the climb is fairly gentle through the forest.
Most of the hike is in the forest, so it's in the shade (which is nice when the sun is beating down).
The cliff section, with the path carved into the rock, gives it a sense of exploration, and from there, the view of Lake Annecy is beautiful.
The refuge is manned by a couple who raise goats; you can sleep there, eat, and buy organic cheese (which is delicious).

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Date of your route : Feb 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb hike, especially in the snow, magical in places. Be careful, however, before arriving at the refuge, as the climb up the cliff is very slippery. Ice cleats are recommended and snowshoes are mandatory above this point.

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Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The car park at the resting place is no longer accessible by car, as a barrier blocks the entrance. You have to park before the barrier and walk along the road for 20 minutes to the car park. After that, the hike is well signposted all the way. Superb views during the hike and at the refuge.
We spent the night at the refuge (rustic and friendly welcome, good food, shower, toilet and electricity on site). Sunrise over Mont Blanc... magical!
Return via the same route. The 15-minute descent over rocky ground is hard on the knees 😖

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Date of your route : Nov 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very pretty view of the Col de la Bonnette and Lake Annecy. Don't miss climbing 2 minutes above the refuge to admire Mont Blanc! Be careful in wet weather, as the path through the forest is muddy and slippery.

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Date of your route : Oct 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hiking on a beautiful autumn day with the family, a pleasant climb through the forest, then up the cliff without much difficulty. The steep section is short and the part carved out for the alpine farmers is spectacular without being dangerous.
After Les Ailes du stream, take the path on the right, which climbs uphill.
Very pretty valley with views of Mont Blanc and numerous peaks. We climbed up to the Col du Planay to see the Aravis and Bauges mountains to the south-east.
Be careful on the descent, however: avoid wet weather as the rock is very smooth from foot traffic; watch out for slipping on the scree below the escarpment or on muddy ground in the forest. Walking sticks may be recommended.

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