Tour du Grand Chavalard
Overview
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Distance 15 km
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Duration 5 h 40 min
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Ascent 1050 m
Intro
Circular hiking tour on the slopes of the Grand Chavalard (2899 m). Highlights of the summit circuit: the panoramic trip by chairlift to the starting point, the section over the Fenestral pass, the mountain lakes of Fully - and of course the view of the Mont Blanc and the Rhone valley.
Description
The Grand Chavalard (2899 m) is an impressive peak towering over the municipality of Fully in the Lower Valais. This hike circles it at an altitude of between 1850 and 2450 metres. The trail starts at the top station of the Jorasse chairlift, reached from Ovronnaz. After the panoramic ride, you climb up to the Petit Pré where the actual tour begins. From here on, you will cross some magnificent alpine landscapes. At first, there’s a gentle uphill section to the pasture Grand Pré d'Euloi. During the snowmelt season, it turns into a lake.
Now it gets steeper: you have to climb more than 400 metres to the highest point of the tour. The view from the Fenestral pass (2453 m) is all the more spectacular: you look out over the lakes of Fully with the Mont Blanc massif in the background. Immediately after the pass, you reach the mountain hut Cabane du Fenestral. From the top of the pass, the trail first descends past the Lac Supérieur de Fully and the Cabane de Sorniot mountain hut (2,064 m.a.s.l.). The lake is a reservoir and stores the water from the hydroelectric power station near Fully. The power station was commissioned in 1915 - a pioneering achievement! Until 1934, the hydroelectric power station had the world's largest gross drop height of 1,643 metres.
On the steep southern flanks of the Grand Chavalard, you have a view of the entire Rhone valley and Fully directly below. Did you know that one of the most exciting sporting events in the Valais takes place on these slopes? The "Kilomètre Vertical de Fully" is a race run on an unused funicular railway line in which 1000 metres of altitude have to be conquered. With gradients of 60%, the race is considered one of the steepest and fastest in the world. The hike is much more leisurely. After crossing the southern slopes of the Grand Chavalard, the route heads north. At L'Erié, you pass the third hut, the Gîte de Lui d'Août (1957 m). There is a final short climb to the top station of the chairlift, where the circular hike ends, and the restaurant with panoramic terrace and playground invites you to linger.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Ovronnaz, Jorasse
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Ovronnaz, Jorasse
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| Ascent |
1050 m
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| Descent |
1050 m
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| Distance |
15 km
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| Duration |
5 h 40 min
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| Duration back |
5 h 35 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Theme |
With panoramic view
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
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Quick Facts
Route number
