Mont Lachat and Croix de l'Enclume loop from Mont Jean

The route starts on the Route de Fetelay at a place called Mont Jean (in the municipality of Thônes). There are a few parking spaces available in the area.

(S/E) Follow the road towards Fetelay for about 300 m.

(1) At the first intersection, turn right onto a path bordering a meadow, which then continues for a short while through woodland. You will come to a chalet at a place called Combe Banon.

(2) Continue right on the path for about 150 m until you reach the intersection and take a path on the left towards Granges de Lachat. You can make a small detour to the left to reach a viewpoint.

(3) Turn back and rejoin the circuit on the left. After a short descent, you will reach an intersection at a place called La Frasse.

(4) Follow the path on the left towards Granges de Lachat and climb up to a mountain pasture area, passing a few chalets.

(5) Continue along the path, which follows the ridge line through fairly open terrain.

(6) A little further on, pass a cross on your right at a place called Chalets de Lachat. Continue straight ahead towards a long rocky spur, stopping about ten metres before it.

(7) Be careful, as there are some difficult sections from this point onwards (see the practical information section)! Turn left and follow a faint path along the foot of the spur. Continue along the slope on a more visible path with some difficulties in areas with gullies. After a while, the path suddenly disappears: using your compass and keeping the same direction, aim for an isolated fir tree not far ahead.

(8) Follow a path on the right uphill, which disappears a little further on: proceed as best you can, keeping your bearings and heading towards the rising ridge and aiming for the large isolated rock known as the Pierre à la Dame, which can be used as shelter if necessary.

(9) Continue straight ahead towards the cliff until you reach a small hill. Be careful, as there are some difficult sections from this point onwards (see the practical information section)! Do not climb any further and continue to the left along the slope until you reach the bottom of a corridor. Leave the couloir fairly quickly by going right via a weak spot in the rock, then continue as best you can on a path heading towards the ridge (for more details, see the practical information section). This will take you to the summit topped by the Croix de Lachat: a very pretty viewpoint, especially towards the Aravis mountain range.

(10) Head east, follow the marked path downhill and continue until you reach a relatively large rock.

(11) Be careful, as there are some difficult sections from this point onwards (see the Practical Information section)! Look for a path on the right that is not very visible at first, and follow it along the side of the slope, then bear right onto a small pass. Continue down a steep descent in a couloir until you reach a small pass, which you then cross. Go around the rocky area and climb up to the right on a path, following the ridge line to its highest point, then quickly turn right (west side) down a small, fairly grassy couloir for a few metres: at^{the second} access point (the^first is a dead end), keep left and follow the foot of a small cliff. You will reach the Croix de l'Enclume, which is clearly visible below.

(12) Be careful, as there are some difficult sections from this point onwards (see the practical information section)! Follow a path downhill to the left, moving through a corridor, and aim for an imposing rocky spur directly ahead, keeping diagonally to the right. Follow the cairn-marked route as best you can, crossing a few scree slopes and following some steep downhill slopes. At the foot of the rock formation, turn left and follow the path. You will come to a junction with a path coming from the Croix de Lachat.

(13) Follow it to the right.

(14) At a place called La Mare (a pretty spot), turn sharp right, then continue downhill for a while until you reach a chalet at a place called Le Mont.

(15) Continue straight ahead on a path at almost the same altitude, then downhill until you reach two chalets at a place called La Côte.

(16) Walk alongside them, then follow a path downhill to the left until you reach a track, which you follow to the left.

(17) Continue straight ahead on the road towards Mont Jean and return to the starting point (S/E).

The starting point can be viewed on Google Maps: click here.
Good walking shoes and walking sticks are recommended.
Please take your rubbish with you; nature will thank you.

This hike is not recommended for people who are unsteady on their feet or prone to vertigo, and should preferably be undertaken on dry ground.

From the starting point (11), I suggest two options (both avoiding the Croix de l'Enclume area):

• either shorten the route and reduce the difficulty by going directly to the point (13): to do this, continue along the marked trail.
• or, conversely, increase the distance on a beautiful route that is not without difficulties by heading towards Le Suet: follow the route in the opposite direction = Le Mont Lachat crossing from Le Suet, then head towards Le Mont (15) or La Mare (14).

Below is a detailed difficulty rating for each section (the route is not uniform):
- green: fairly easy with no significant elevation gain or difficulty.
- blue: steeper slopes and/or elevation changes on a well-marked route.
- orange: route with some technical difficulties and/or poor route conditions (markings or visibility of the path).
- red: difficult route due to significant elevation changes that may require some climbing, in an environment with some hazards.
- black: fairly difficult route and/or involving contiguous hazards.
- white: route in very difficult technical environments requiring certain equipment.

From (S/E) to (1): Green difficulty
The route is very easy to follow along a small road
Marked sector

From (1) to (2): Blue difficulty
The trail starts off with a short steep section. After that, the slopes are not too steep
Signposting: Yellow arrows + signposts.

From (2) to (5): Blue difficulty
The trail starts^off easy, then continues on a path with a few steep slopes at times, but no significant difficulties.
Signposting: Yellow arrows + signposts.

From (5) to (7): Blue difficulty
Follow a trail along the ridge in an alpine pasture environment. No difficulties encountered
Signposting: Yellow arrows + signposts.

From (7) to (8): Orange difficulty
From this point, the^first difficulty of the route is encountered on a path running along a slope: this is sometimes difficult to see or not very wide, while overlooking some steep slopes (take care not to slip). As the area is dominated by cliffs, beware of the potential risk of falling rocks along the way ( avoid stopping for too long in certain places). The end of this section is off-trail, following a bearing.
This area is not marked.

From (8) to (9): Blue difficulty
Follow a steep path that disappears shortly afterwards, then climb as best you can through grassy alpine pastures. The steep slopes and possibly the orientation are the main difficulties.
Unmarked sector.

From (9) to (10): Red difficulty
Be careful, as this section is difficult to navigate and there are some steep slopes below you. Continue along the route, which remains in a grassy environment. After reaching a small hill on the ridge, follow a path along the side of the slope, taking care as you overhang some relatively steep slopes on slightly uneven ground. As soon as you enter the couloir, leave it via a short passage in a weak spot in the rock (no significant difficulties if you have good handholds), then follow the path without losing sight of it, wandering to the right and left: do not head too quickly towards the Lachat cross and, if in doubt, follow the trail leading to the ridge Instead, the route continues gently at the foot of the rock until you reach the Croix de Lachat.
This sector is not marked.

From (10) to (11): Blue difficulty
Follow the marked trail on the other side: this requires caution in places where the descent is steep and uneven
Markings: Yellow arrows

From (11) to (12): Orange difficulty
Be careful, from this point onwards, there are some difficulties with navigation and a few steep slopes. Follow a moderately visible path at first, running along the side of the slope. Further on, there is a difficult section involving the descent of a stony couloir on some steep slopes. After crossing a pass, bear right as soon as possible and follow some tracks to the top of the ridge. From here, the easiest route is to descend a few metres, then follow a track at the foot of a small cliff. The rest of the route is relatively easy, leading to the Croix de l'Enclume below.
This sector is not marked.

From (12) to (13): Orange difficulty
Be careful, from this point onwards, there are some difficulties with navigation and a few steep slopes. To the left of the Croix de l'Enclume, follow the path in the corridor down some steep slopes. Further down, you will have to cross a few scree slopes where the difficulty lies in keeping sight of the path (a few cairns help). Be careful of steep slopes in one section on stony, slippery ground.
Fairly regular cairns

From (13) to (17): Blue difficulty
Follow a series of sections of trail without encountering any particular difficulties
Signposting: Yellow arrows + signposts.

From (17) to (S/E): Green difficulty
A fairly easy-to-follow road suitable for vehicles
Signposting: Yellow arrows + signposts.

There are three peaks of Mont Lachat, which should not be confused. The one shown here is Mont Lachat in the Massif des Bornes. The^{second one} nearby is called Mont Lachat de Chatillon and the^third is Mont Lachat in the Mont Blanc massif.