A Wilderness Adventure Crossing Glières Plateau

No need to travel to distant, faraway lands for this adventure, just take a closer look at the surrounding mountains and contact locals in the know. Local mountain guides belong to a unique group of people who know the area’s wilderness wonders like nobody else. Place your trust in their ability to amaze you, even in places where you think that you have already seen it all.

Lauris, from the Bureau des Guides d’Annecy guide service, is one of them. This winter, he offers to take us on an escape, to spend two days crossing Glières Plateau on snowshoes. This adventure is easily accessible to anyone who considers themselves an avid hiker. Count on 5.5 hours of snowshoeing on the first day, and around 5 hours of snowshoeing on day two to return to the starting point. Times may vary depending on the group dynamic, the weather, and the snow conditions.

Start the adventure at the Glières Plateau cross-country ski center. With snowshoes on your feet, venture off-trail, towards Mt. Frêtes Ridge and to the wilder side of the plateau.

In winter, the area feels like the “Great White North,” pristine, as the excursion leads all the way to Champ Laitier (literally “the Milking Fields”), offering the chance to explore an area only accessible on foot when a thick blanket of snow covers the ground. Enjoy the solitude of this magical location along the lower ramparts of Sous-Dine Mountain as you make your way up and over Col de l’Enclave Pass, the exact place where, on March 26, 1944, French Resistance fighters, aka “maquisards,” held off an attack by the “Milice,” the Vichy government’s paramilitary unit.

Glières Plateau and the entire surrounding area, in addition to its natural beauty, embody the values of the Resistance, which still resonate throughout the area. In addition, March 2024 marks the 80^th anniversary of the battle of Glières, and will be celebrated on Glières Plateau as well as in the valley at the Glières National Cemetery in Morette, a small village between the towns of Thônes and Balme-de-Thuy.

The journey continues to Roche Parnal, a massive limestone cliff, and then to the Chalet de Balme Hut. Here, in this remote, hidden corner of the mountains, after finishing the 5.5-hour excursion covering 13 km, and 900 meters vertical gain, you will spend a truly wonderful evening, including the added bonus of stargazing if the sky stays clear.

For dinner, feast on a hearty, traditional winter meal, made with local products, enjoy a great night’s sleep, wake up to an energizing breakfast, and then step outside to embark on the day’s adventure.

Start with the short, steep, somewhat technical ascent to Col de Freu Pass. For your safety, and that of the group, everyone will be equipped with a transceiver, shovel, and probe. Never fear, the benefit of embarking on this type of outing with a professional mountain guide, even if you have considerable experience, means that every precaution is taken.

Just after Col de Freu Pass, and before you your reach Champ Laitier, enjoy the incredible opportunity to observe local ibex and deer in their natural habitat, most likely bounding to and fro towards the sunny side of the mountain. Yes, sometimes the wilderness simply leaves you speechless.

Descend from Col de Freu Pass along the flanks of a drainage basin covered in a thick blanket of snow. Marvel at the spectacular views of the Aravis Mountains and the Mt. Blanc Range.

The hike continues towards Col de Spée Pass, the Spée hut, and then down Creux des Sarrazins gully towards Glières Plateau. The return leg takes approximately 5 hours to cover the 12.7 km and 600 meters of vertical gain and loss.

All throughout this truly unforgettable two-day traverse, time seems to stands still. Between the mountain chalets, forests, hidden valleys, streams, and venturing off the beaten path, Glières Plateau has so much to offer, from pristine wilderness, to pastoral traditions, by way of a trip through local history.