Tour de Jalouvre, Grand Bornand, Haute-Savoie, France

Features

Limestone, completely west-facing. Well integrated into this area, few bars and a spectacular footbridge 80m above the ground.

It is characterized by atmosphere that is at once vertiginous and mineral.

ViaFerrata Tips and Tricks

During the winter this via ferrata is systematically closed due to problems with the snow. The cables are removed from one section because of avalanches. At the start of the season, check with the Tourism Office to find out if it's open.

The difficulty of this via ferrata stems essentially from its considerable length. Once you cross the footbridge the level of commitment is high and at the beginning of the season the way back can be tricky.

Grade

Information

 Grand-Bornand Tourism Office

Length and Altitude

Exposure: Southwest- Length : 1100 m
Elevation gain of the Via Ferrata : 450 m
Altitude at the top of the Via Ferrata : 2000 m
Altitude at the start of the Via Ferrata : 1410 m
Total elevation gain: 590 m

Time of Year

Open from June to November

Timing

Access: 20-30 minutes
Viaferrata : 3h30 to 4h30.
Way back : 1 hour

By Car

From le Chinaillon, go towards Col de la Colombière. The pointer on the map is on the start.

By Train or Bus

Well, it's not so easy. Check with the SNCF: schedules and fares.

Access

The approach begins at the sign on the side of the road. After 20 to 30 minutes you will reach the first part of the via ferrata by means of a traversing path.

Via Ferrata

A series of terraces made from good quality rock bring you to the Ibex Arch, before the crux which consists of a slight overhang that you negotiate with small rungs, forcing you to use moves that resemble those used in rock climbing; it's the overhang of the "turned back." One does not invent these things...

After a rocky climb, and then an easy progresson, we cross towards the Tour. You can interrupt this via ferrata experience by taking the "Fred exit", by way of a comfortable ledge and then a short downclimb with rungs.

Getting to the Tour is achieved by taking the 16m long Gypaète footbridge, very vertiginous, and dominated by a beautiful steep pillar that one overcomes with much thrill and excitement: it is "The Pillar of Drafts." A big rocky traverse that runs alongside the rock face and is punctuated by a footbridge on a half-larch log may awe and inspire you.

A big, easy, and aesthetic ridge then leads you to the summit of the Tour.

Way Back

The way back starts off with a big traverse in the face of the Jalouvre, at the end of which you come to a steep colouir which is equipped with a cable that leads you to the Rasoir valley where you meet up with a good trail. It is fairly long so account for 1 hour. Save your energy on the way up for the downhill.

Alternative

At the end of the Via, folow the normal path which goes under the lapiez and allows you to meet up with the valley located under the Rasoir pass. Just before getting to the valley you will go on another little cabled section.

At the end of this section, on your left, you will find a big inscription painted in red on the rock: "Arrête des Bouquetins." Follow the red markings. There are no major technical difficulties except towards the end where the route takes you up a long chaotic ridge that is fairly vertiginous. Those who are impressionable or not sure of themselves should rope-up.
This route, which had fallen into oblivion, was rediscovered a couple years ago by a grandpa from Chinaillon who re-did the markings. It's well worth the detour, that's for sure!

Where to Sleep

Check with the Tourism Office.

vidéo par Schorail, Youtube

Media