RouteCar park (often busy) on Avenue Ampere just coming out of St Didier du Mont D'or - opposite the Aux Montagnards restaurant which does Savoie specialities.

Geraldine woke at 6.30; we’d planned to get up an hour earlier. After a cool shower we were on our way at 7.15. Not a moment too soon. It was already warm and humid.

The tour of the lac d'Annecy is around 45km. Flat on the left bank, hilly on the right due to the Roc de Chère nature reserve.

A quick trip to get some air between the rain storms and see where the snowline is.

General DescriptionFrom one of the car-parks at the col (take care, thieves operating) head to the Col du Coq then take the trail north-west which climbs through woods before turning North East at 150

I'd wanted to drive up to the summer parking so only climb 400 meters but the road has been closed as they don't want drivers using it during the winter.

From the town hall in les Pres take a metalled road through the village direction Croix de l'Alpe. After 100 m by a fire hydrant and reservoir follow a small path to the left (NW) past a house.

Normally I would be skiing this route but in this start of winter, well it was more like spring, there was no snow below 1900m.

From the Col du Coq parking 150 meters before the col itself climb the path to the Col des Ayes then take a zig-zag path below the cliffs of the Dent de Crolles.

Day of exploration for the Tot and I. We decided to have a look at the Pas de l'Arche. It was fairly easy to find and the small arch complex is interesting to visit. We didn't go to the cave.