Pic de Borée from Novel

Park in a fairly large car park located after the hamlet of La Planche, at the end of the road that climbs from Novel (end of authorised traffic; signpost "La Planche à Brousoz, altitude 1205 m"). Access from Saint-Gingolph (French-Swiss border).

Directional signs are present at all major intersections.

Yellow arrow signposts + red and white markings (^GR®® Balcon du Léman)

(S/E) From the signpost, follow the direction of Col de Neuvaz (indicated at 1 hour 55 minutes, generous estimate... allow 1 hour 30 minutes without stops), i.e. continue on the road you arrived on, which quickly becomes a forest track. At the first fork, take the right-hand track. Cross a stream and make a sharp right turn. Follow the track, called Route de la Planche, and ignore a turn-off on the right and then a turn-off on the left (ignore the yellow sign).

(1) Take a hairpin bend to the left (rock on the outside edge). The track, now called Route de Neuvaz, then heads west. Several signs indicate that you are on a private road and that traffic is prohibited, but this only applies to motor vehicles. Ignore several turnings on the left and follow the signs for Col de Neuvaz. You will reach the Neuvaz chalet below.

(2) The track then becomes very steep and makes a wide right turn to go around a kind of grassy peak. At the top of the steep slope, the track turns left and the slope becomes gentler.

(3) Continue west on the alpine track; the Col de Neuvaz is clearly visible opposite. Ignore an old track on the left.

(4) Ignore a path on the right and take a hairpin bend to the left with the track. Pass the middle Chalet de Neuvaz and then cross a few wet passages. After a few hairpin bends, at a fork (rock with old signposts), turn right. You will very quickly reach the Col de Neuvaz, which is accessed via a fence barrier (sign at the pass indicating the Borée on the right at 40 mins, and another sign a few metres further on).

No markings

(5) From the pass, there are two options:
- As shown on the map and recommended by the author, take a narrow path on the right that starts at the foot of the first signpost and runs along an alpine fence. Follow the fence as closely as possible (on your right) to the top of the grassy slope (several very steep sections).
- Head north onto the grassy slope on your right when you reach the pass from Neuvaz du Milieu. There is no path, so you will have to find your own way up the switchbacks. The grassy slope is bordered on the right by a fence, which you will reach at the top of the slope.

(6) Walk along a ridge that descends slightly to the base of the summit (be careful, the ridge is narrow in places). A final short but steep climb brings you to the summit.

(7) From the summit, follow the path along the ridge towards the east. Ignore a corridor on the left marked by a stake (this is the route down the north slope) and continue along the ridge. You will then begin a very steep descent. The path is poorly marked, with only traces in places. Keep to the edge of the precipice (on your left) or slightly below it. You will soon see the Col de Parchet, which you must head for to the east. It is easily spotted by the path leading to it on the north side and by a small water reservoir. Reach a fence (barbed wire): from this point, the slope is less steep and you must continue to the Col de Parchet between the cliff (on your left) and the fence (on your right).

(8) At the pass, cross the fence (chicken wire or gate to be closed behind you) and take a path heading south. At a fork, take the wider path on the right. After about 100 metres, turn sharp right before a stand of spruce trees. The path then descends to the south-west and becomes stony.

(9) Shortly after a steep section, on an almost flat section, turn left onto a narrow path (not shown on the map) that loops to the left to rejoin the mountain track taken on the way up. N.B. If you have missed the path, return to point 4 and follow the route taken on the way up, then turn left.

Yellow signposts + red and white markings (^GR®® Balcon du Léman)

(3) Follow the alpine track to the left and downhill to reach the Neuvaz chalets below.

(2) Continue east on the track and reach the hairpin bend.

(1) A few metres after the bend, do not turn left as indicated by a yellow arrow, but continue on the track you took on the way up to return to the starting point (S/E).

Essential hiking equipment.

Allow between 2 and 2½ hours for the climb to the summit and 1½ hours for the descent (not including breaks).

Resources along the way:
- Water source at the Neuvaz dessous chalet (2) and Neuvaz du milieu (open in summer; do not rely on it outside the season).
- Refreshments and snacks at the Neuvaz dessous chalet (2) (only open in summer).
- In the village of Novel (downstream from the car park (S/E)), just below the church, there is a bar-restaurant-stopover lodge called Les Chemins du Léman. Open between Easter and All Saints' Day, depending on snow conditions.

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).
N.B. Throughout the area, the place name "Neuvaz" is written with a z, but it is written without a z on the IGN map (as the z is not pronounced). The local spelling, with a z, has been used here.

Warnings:

- In early spring (April), it is not uncommon to still find snow between point (4) and the Col de Neuvaz (5). You will then need to trace your route through the snow, keeping the pass in sight and avoiding the escarpments on your right. Due to its southern exposure, the rest of the route (long grassy slope, ridge, etc.) is generally clear.

- After (7), the proposed descent route includes a very steep and exposed section. In bad weather, particularly in fog or rain, or for those prone to vertigo, it is recommended to take the same route down as you did on the way up, via the Col de Neuvaz (5) and the Chalets de Neuvaz below (2).

- From the ridge towards the Col de Parchet, you can clearly see the path taken on the way up, which you will need to take for the last part of the descent. It is strongly advised not to attempt to cut across the slope to rejoin this path without going via the Col de Parchet. The terrain consists of very steep grassy slopes interspersed with small rocky outcrops: it would be extremely imprudent to venture there!

This hike has been completed nine times by the author, the first on 28 October 2005 and the last on 24 July 2021.

From Novel to the Col de Neuvaz, there are beautiful views of the peaks of the Tanay region (Switzerland) and the peaks of the Oche region.

From the summit, there is a magnificent panorama of Lake Geneva and the Mémises (north) and the Chablais Massif (south), with the Tour Salière and the Ruan in the background, as well as the Aiguille Verte.