The pioneers of Mont-Blanc climbing
Balmat, Paccard, Saussure: the names that gave birth to mountaineering 240 years ago.…
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Gentian: the different species
Yellow gentian, Koch's gentian, alpine gentian: telling them apart and why it matters.…
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Hiking in November: how late?
The season is ending, but not everything is closed. Routes still walkable in late autumn.…
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Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval: cirque, waterfalls, hikes
The best-preserved commune in the Giffre valley: cirque, waterfalls, refuge, nature reserve.…
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Hiking solo: the precautions to take
Solo hiking isn't forbidden but requires specific preparation. The rules to follow in Haute-Savoie.…
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The history of tourism in Chamonix
From the 18th-century discovery of the valley to the global resort: three centuries of tourism.…
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Alpine flora: 10 emblematic flowers
Gentian, anemone, soldanella, edelweiss: the 10 flowers to recognise in Haute-Savoie pastures.…
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Autumn colours in Haute-Savoie
Larches, beeches, maples: Haute-Savoie's autumn palette. When and where to see it.…
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Samoëns as a hiking base: star options
From Samoëns you can spread in every direction. The best hikes from the Most Beautiful Village.…
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Handling a sprained ankle on a remote trail
What to do when you sprain an ankle far from the trailhead: assessment, immobilisation, turning back or calling for help.…
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The Évian salt route: a historic path
Évian salt was traded on mule paths still walkable today.…
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The marmot: understanding its whistles
Marmot whistles each carry meaning. A small decoder.…
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Hiking in September: the best light of the year
September offers the best golden light and ideal temperatures. The photographers' favourite month.…
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Hiking between Annecy and the Bauges: lakeside
Tournette, Semnoz, Mont Veyrier: the classics above Lake Annecy, within everyone's reach.…
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What to pack in a hiking first-aid kit
A minimal and effective first-aid kit list for a hiking day in Haute-Savoie.…
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Roman roads in Haute-Savoie
Several Roman roads crossed Haute-Savoie. The sections still identifiable today.…
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The chamois: reading its tracks
Smaller and more agile than the ibex, the chamois leaves distinctive tracks. Learn to read them.…
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Avoiding crowds in July and August: quiet routes
High season can be a nightmare. Little-known but stunning trails.…
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Hiking around Mont Blanc without climbing
Grand Balcon, Lac Blanc, Col de Voza: the routes to see the glaciers without axe or rope.…
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Understanding French FFRP trail marking
FFRP marking codes routes by colour. Yellow for local paths, red-white for GR trails: decoded.…
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Roadside shrines on old trails
Shrines punctuate the old trails. Quiet witnesses of a rural piety.…
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The Alpine ibex: where to see one
The ibex, king of limestone cliffs, appears in several areas reachable by hiking.…
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Hiking in June: the alpine flower window
Early July is the peak of alpine flora. The best areas to explore at this time.…
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Hiking in the Aravis and Bornes: peaks and pastures
Limestone ridges and Reblochon pastures: the area that holds Haute-Savoie's postcard image.…
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Using a compass when the GPS fails
A dead GPS happens more often than you'd think. Knowing how to take a bearing with a compass is a life-saving skill.…
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Mountain chapels: why, where
Rural chapels scattered across the department. Origin, function, and main examples.…
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The golden eagle in Haute-Savoie: a few sites
The golden eagle nests in several areas. The places with the best chances of seeing one.…
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Valley-floor trails for off-season
River trails and low-forest paths stay open almost year-round.…
Read article →Hiking in the Arve valley: above the towns
From Le Môle to Pointe d'Andey, the trails above the Arve valley offer views of Mont Blanc.…
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Reading a 1:25,000 IGN map in the mountains: the basics
Contour lines, orientation, symbols: what you need to know to read an IGN map and use it in the field.…
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The Vogealle refuge: an icon of the Giffre
Perched at the foot of a spectacular cliff, the Vogealle refuge symbolises the Upper Giffre.…
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The bearded vulture: where to see it
Reintroduced in the Alps since the 1990s, the bearded vulture is back in Haute-Savoie. Where to see it.…
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Hiking in April: areas already walkable
In April, not all the mountains are open yet. The areas that open first.…
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Hiking in the Chablais: accessible summits
Dent d'Oche, Roc d'Enfer, Nantaux: the iconic Chablais summits you can climb in a day.…
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Picking hiking shoes for alpine terrain
Low, mid, high-cut: how to pick your boots based on the terrain you'll meet in Haute-Savoie.…
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History of Haute-Savoie refuges
From crude shelters to modern huts, the refuges' history is the mountain's history.…
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Identifying raptors in flight in Haute-Savoie
Eagle, bearded vulture, buzzard, kite: the main raptors you see while hiking and how to tell them apart.…
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When to start the hiking season in Haute-Savoie
When trails become walkable again, and where to start first.…
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Hiking in the Giffre valley: where to start
Fer-à-Cheval cirque, Pic de Marcelly, Col de la Golèse: where to start when discovering the Giffre.…
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Packing your daypack for hiking in Haute-Savoie
Overpacked or underpacked: the 10 to 15 items to carry in a daypack for hiking in Haute-Savoie, so you never struggle at the pass or on a su…
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The 6 valleys of Haute-Savoie for hiking: where to start
Chablais, Giffre, Arve, Aravis-Bornes, Mont-Blanc country, Annecy-Bauges: an overview of Haute-Savoie's 6 hiking valleys to pick where to wa…
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Spotting a cairn in the mountains: purpose, history and good practice
A small pile of stones set along a trail, the cairn has guided hikers for millennia. Here is its role, its history and how to use one proper…
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