Randonnée pédestre

Grenairon - Vogealle

Tour du Ruan

Etappe 2 der Tour du Ruan

From the Refuge du Grenairon to the Refuge de la Vogealle (1900 m) coord. 553.550/106.900.

Seven hours will not be too much to connect these two refuges located on French territory in the Savoyard region of the Haut-Giffre.

After leaving Grenairon, take the path towards Commune which winds down the slopes of the Forêt domaniale de Sixt to the left of the Nant Sec. At the altitude of 1400 m, at the crossroads, a variant is offered to us. Either we continue on the path that runs alongside the Nant Sec to the village of Salvagny (860 m) to continue towards the main town of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (780 m) from where we can take the public transport - shuttle bus - to the Plan des Lacs. The official Tour route continues to the right towards the Pralet chairlift. From here you take a road that is not passable by vehicles to the Praz de Commune (1672 m) via Verduize (1346 m) and the Mouillettes (1434 m). Since the creation of the Tour, a project for a path through the Lapiaz (1639 m) to reach Commune (1641 m) has been discussed. But the topography and the danger of falling rocks, but also the slope of these limestone slabs require an immense amount of work to shape a path. Geologically, it would be interesting to be able to walk along this section, which can be seen on the descent to Commune. This would also avoid having to descend much lower and then climb back up over 350 m to avoid the lapiaz.

From Praz-de-Commune (1672 m) turn left onto the path which has been torn up by herds of cows and follow it to the right through the forest. A long descent, first on a track and then on a road that is not passable, takes us to the Pelly campsite (920 m). There are two possibilities at this point. The first: when you reach the campsite at the small refreshment bar, turn right and walk up the campsite and then turn left and cross the Nant des Pères. Follow the road to the Plan des Lacs and continue along the educational path to the Prazon refreshment station, crossing the Giffre by the footbridge (1012 m). The second solution: from the campsite, take the D907 road and turn left for 80 metres. Cross the road and turn right through Giffrenant (962 m) until you reach the Prazon refreshment station. From the refreshment room, you can continue to the right to go to the Fond de la Combe and to reach the Bout du Monde.
A look back at this magnificent amphitheatre makes us think that the name "Bout du Monde" really belongs here. Cross the different networks of the Bout du Monde on a pretty path and turn left towards Chalet du Boret.

This itinerary from the refreshment room extends the access to the Boret by more than an hour, but the diversions is worth it. But better two candles than one with the magnificent and aerial variant of the Pas du Boret. This path, which can be seen from the refreshment room, seems inaccessible from below, but once inside, everything becomes easier, especially thanks to the work done by the handrails and the maintenance of the path, which has nothing to reproach.

The Pas du Boret is a real lift to take us to the Chalet du Boret (1388 m). From the Giffre (1012 m) to the Refuge de la Vogealle (1900 m), 878 metres of positive change in altitude awaits us. With the Pas du Boret, some 280 metres have to be wiped off the slate but everything else is ahead of us. The Pointe de Bellgarde dominates us from the top of these walls towards which the path crosses the Pierre du Dard (1637 m) and, finally, after passing through a large landslide, the Refuge de la Vogealle makes its appearance.