From Novel to Chapelle d’Abondance

July 19, 2024

Novel, 913m

Departure from Novel at 8:30 am after a good breakfast. We start the long climb to the Col de Bise.

As we gain height, we start to see the view of Lake Geneva becoming more and more beautiful. We pass the Chalets de Neteu.

The climb is steep, and we seem to cover less than 5km of the 1,000m ascent to the Col de Bise, at 1,916m.

Col de Bise, 1.916m

Last glimpse of Lac Léman, and as we pass the Col we discover a superb view of the Mont Blanc massif. We start the steep descent to the Refuge de Bise, where we arrive at around 12 noon. We stop for a coffee and some cheese for lunch.

Chalet de Bise, 1.500m

Here we go again, climbing to the Pas de la Bosse at 1,816m. Legs are getting tired, but this is the last climb of the day.

Pas de la Bosse 1.816m

All that remains is to descend to the Chapelle d’abondance, where we can stock up on supplies and look for a bivouac a little further on to spend the night.

Chappelle d’Abondance, 1,027m

Bivouac by the river