Circular loop of Pointe de Chombas from Les Troncs

The starting point is the Troncs car park, accessible from Le Grand Bornand by following the Bouchet valley along the Borne river to the end of the road. Shuttles from the village of Le Grand Bornand stop at the Lormay Nordic Lodge, from where it is about 1.5 km to the Troncs car park.

(S/E) The path is wide at the start. After a few dozen metres, turn right onto the Refuge de la Pointe Percée (Gramusset) trail, which winds through the forest. Follow it until you reach a wide pastoral track signposted “Bois de Plattuy 1530 m”.

(1) Take this track to the right (heading east). After the sign for “Plattuy 1560 m”, indicating the Refuge de la Pointe Percée is 2 hours 5 minutes away, follow the path which leads to the valley and then the Chalet du Planet, about a hundred metres after passing the junction with the return path.

(2) After the chalet, the path first climbs up through a gap and then winds through an open area where the rocks begin to appear. You will reach the junction with the path coming from the Col de l'Oulettaz.

(3) Turn right. The sign reads “Monts Pelés 2010 m”. The slope becomes steeper and you soon reach the Gramusset Refuge, at around 2260 m.

(4) After passing the refuge, a blue sign indicates an arrow and Chombas. Follow this direction (south), leaving the Col des Verts on your left. From here, you must be extremely vigilant in following the cairns and light and/or dark blue markings through a field of sharp limestone pavement that tolerates no lapse in concentration.

A few steps of easy but exposed climbing are required, justifying the ‘very difficult’ rating. This traverse is at least 800 m long and is dotted with marked chasms. In one spot, between two holes, the word ‘eau’ is written in light blue. At the end of this sharp limestone pavement field, you arrive at a short chimney that has been clearly visible for some time, equipped with two knotted ropes. Once you have climbed this chimney, simply follow the blue markings leading to the ridge, which you ascend without difficulty to the summit, marked at 2,468 m on the IGN map.

(5) From the summit, the steep descent takes you down through the goat pastures, following the cairns along a path close to the ridge line, though it is not very well marked. You will reach the top of the cliff face that drops down to the Combe de Chombas.

(6) You can descend via a few steps of downclimbing or bypass it a little further on via a less steep chimney, well marked by a cairn. Return to the path leading to the climbing site and the final gap in the Combe de Chombas.

(7) From there, simply follow the path (west), which is fairly well marked through a sheep pasture and clearly signposted with cairns. Enter the forest to come upon the path leading from Les Confins to Le Planet (^GR® de Pays Massif de Tournette-Aravis).

(8) Turn right onto this path towards Le Planet, signposted at 35 minutes and marked in red and yellow. Reach the junction signposted “Combe du Planet 1628 m”, about a hundred metres from the Chalet du Planet. Resume the route taken on the ascent by turning left.

(1) Continue straight on, cross the Ruisseau du Déluge stream, then keep left at the fork to descend alongside the stream. This descent is very steep in places and may put a little more strain on your knees. Head straight to the Troncs car park (S/E).

In bad weather, and especially if there is fog, do not attempt to cross the sharp limestone pavement between points (4) and (5). There may also be snow at the start and end of the season, making this crossing perilous. The refuge can provide welcome accommodation.
This hike is intended for experienced hikers due to the crossing of the sharp limestone pavement.