Char Trail for Snowshoeing and Circular Trail.

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We took into account the comments advising us to do the route in the opposite direction in winter. As a result, we couldn't find the start of the trail and had to make a detour via Mont-Derrière.
The ground was very wet in places. Crampons were very useful for the ascent and descent of the Crêt.
Thanks to Bisserain73 for this review.

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Date of your route : Dec 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes. The first part up to the pass is the busiest, then there is no one else. This second part is more challenging, with a lot of mud and snow, which does not help the climb. Then there is a careful descent to the mountain pastures. Doing the route in reverse is therefore more suitable for winter. The circular route is perfect and avoids the busiest car park. Thank you for this discovery.

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Date of your route : Dec 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike on Sunday with glorious sunshine at the top. The climb through the forest was difficult, not because of the steep slope but because of the cross-country skiers hurtling downhill, so we had to be very careful. Once we reached the summit, the descent into the valley was far too dangerous on snowshoes, because if you slip, the injury could have serious consequences, and it would be difficult for the emergency services to come and get us in this part of the descent. It's more reasonable to do this hike in winter without snowshoes. I did it this summer without any problems.

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Date of your route : Nov 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone.

It's a shame to have specified "Snowshoes". It escapes hikers in the summer who filter hikes by "On foot".

This hike is presented bythe Bauges tourist office (https://www.lesbauges.com/le-sentier-du-...) and it is indeed a walking hike (....).

The route can be downloaded there.

BELLECOMBE-EN-BAUGES
Tel: 04 79 54 84 28

There is a slight issue with the Le Buchet lodge (at the start), which does not want people to park in the municipal car park opposite it. Its owner redirects (or attempts to redirect) vehicles to Le Reposoir. However, the hike starts from there, as confirmed by the Town Hall when contacted today.

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Date of your route : Jul 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant, easy hike with beautiful views along the way.
Done in winter 2020: very pleasant, it's better to do it in the "reverse" direction (Col de Bornette THEN Précheret) to cross a very steep slope on the way up rather than on the way down. Very happy!
Did this week in summer 2021. Please note: the Chalets du Mollard area, which the route crosses just above the Col de Bornette, is used for summer grazing in July and August. Mainly cows, no dogs, a few electric fences to climb over, a minefield of cow pats if you go after rain, and micro-detours to respect the farmer's property! The walk is still enjoyable even in summer.

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Date of your route : Feb 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Done on 23/02/2021 in the opposite direction to that indicated in the guidebook, with a detour via Golet from the Col de la Bornette to extend the route a little. In the end, +700m, 3h40 of leisurely walking, 11km
Snowshoes used only on the detour via the Bornette pass, Golet and Reposoir car park. Despite heavy snowfall in January/early February 2021, the weather has been very warm for a week and much of the snow has melted.

An easy and enjoyable hike with beautiful views from the Bornette meadows over La Tournette and the end of Lake Annecy.

Note that there is an alternative route that I think is nicer (and easier if you're not very experienced): park at the Reposoir car park, Le Golet, Col de Bornette, climb up to the Bornette meadows for the view, then return directly from Col de Bornette to the Reposoir car park.
There is not much point in climbing up to Crêt du Char (no view).

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Date of your route : Jan 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Snowshoe hike on 1 January 2021: snow, poor visibility but a real pleasure

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Date of your route : Mar 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely view when you reach the plateau cret du char, but be careful, it is impossible to reach chalet precheret on snowshoes as the descent is very steep and dangerous.

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Date of your route : Oct 07, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike in autumn, so without snowshoes, but it was just as enjoyable, especially with the autumn colours.
A quick note: when you arrive at the Reposoir car park, be sure to turn left towards Le Char instead of Col de la Bornette, as the signs are not pointing in the same direction. We took the pass and found ourselves on the slope because the path from the start disappears. We were able to get back on the path at Ecurie Derrière.
However, those wishing to do this route on snowshoes should be careful on the descent to Pecheret, as there are some very narrow passages that can be dangerous. Otherwise, it's a very pleasant hike in good weather.

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All right, I'll do it.

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Yes, thank you, I hadn't seen it. Perhaps you could put it in bold so that it stands out better.

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There is already a warning in the description.

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Hello and thank you for these constructive exchanges. Bisserain73, perhaps you could add a short comment about this particular point in your description to warn hikers.

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Thank you for these comments.
Indeed, the descent into the forest to reach Précheret can be tricky when the path is frozen.

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