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Start from Creusaz, at the top of the village (car park near a restaurant). Access from the village of Bernex.
Signposts are provided at major junctions.
Yellow + Blue markings
(S/E) Head to the top of the car park, pass through a turnstile and head towards Sous l'Échelle and Sur les Prés. Follow a wide, winding path through the pastures up to the chalets of La Rasse.
(1) Enter the forest. The path skirts Mont César to the south, initially at roughly the same altitude or on a slight descent, then levelling out. At the various junctions, follow the signs for L’Échelle. After a steep section, you reach a stream at the hamlet of Sous l’Échelle.
No signposting
(2) Continue in the same direction, taking a path towards L’Échelle (leave the wide marked path, which turns right and crosses the stream). The path climbs steeply over scree. Further up, the path winds to the left (old red and white markings) before turning back to the right at the foot of a cliff. Reach the base of the ladder by making your way over a few boulders.
(3) Climb the ladder (see the warning in the practical information section). At the top, take a path that climbs in steep switchbacks to reach the Col de Pertuis, access to which may require passing under a barbed-wire fence.
(4) At the pass, turn right towards the Thollon cable car (in August 2022, the sign’s inscriptions were barely legible; do not head towards Les Mémises). Walk on roughly level ground, heading north-east.
(5) At a fork in the road (geological information sign), take the left-hand branch. Climb very gently, first through mountain pastures and then beneath spruce trees. Cross a cattle grid and walk along the left-hand side of a ski lift tunnel for beginners.
Yellow arrow signposts and red and white markings (rare and faded)
(6) Cross the terrace of a mountain restaurant, go round the cable car arrival station on the right and emerge into the arrival area.
(7) Take the track heading due east, climbing towards a weather vane, and pass a first paragliding launch area. At the Fork in the road immediately after (antenna), take a path on the left that climbs towards the Chalets des Mémises along the ridges (ignore the track heading straight ahead). After a steep climb, you will reach a second paragliding launch site. Continue along the gently ascending ridge, soon skirting a barbed-wire fence on your right. Reach the eastern summit of Les Mémises (metal cross).
(8) Continue eastwards along the descending ridge through the undergrowth. Upon emerging from the undergrowth, follow a fence on your right-hand side once more and head towards the top station of the Frasse chairlift, clearly visible on the right. Leave the electricity pylons on your left.
(9) Shortly afterwards, at the foot of a marker post, turn right to cross the fence using a wooden plank as a stepping stone. Through a clear passage between the grass (not shown on the 1:25,000 map), reach a reservoir. Turn right and leave the reservoir on your left. Follow a track that climbs gently, heading west, to reach the cable car arrival area.
(7) Go round the cable car station on the left and cross the terrace of the mountain restaurant again.
(6) Follow the ridge due west towards the Pic des Mémises. Pass two small chalets and climb gently along the ridge. Just before the summit, the slope becomes slightly steeper and the path turns stony. Reach the summit of the Pic des Mémises (antenna, monumental cross).
(10) Continue south-west, along the edge of the ridge or slightly below it.
(11) At the western end, descend left along a very steep path. This leads to the Col de Pertuis.
Yellow + Blue markings
(4) Then turn right towards Creusaz. Descend the northern slope via a stony, winding path.
Blue markings
(12) At a junction, turn right towards the Bois de la Corne (do not follow the path on the left towards Creusaz, as the descent would be even steeper and, in my opinion, less scenic). The path continues in switchbacks, passes a drinking trough and then descends steeply to a clearing on the edge of the Bois de la Corne.
Yellow markings (rare)
(13) Then follow a good path to the left towards the Col de Creusaz. Through woods and then pastures, reach the pass and then the car park on the left (S/E).
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