SmaylaRoad & trail journals

On foot · Vaud Riviera · June 2026

Rochers de Naye via the Sautodoz couloir

When you organise dinner at the Sonchaux inn, climbing the Rochers de Naye by the Sautodoz couloir is obvious. Almost.

Date
June 2026
Summit
Rochers de Naye · 2,042 m
Key section
Sautodoz couloir
View down to Lake Geneva

The route · indicative

The climb

A hundred and fifty metres of focus

Lake Geneva and flowery meadows first, then the couloir. With exposed passages, crushing heat and the memory of a few accidents in recent years, nobody feels cocky. But when you have to be one hundred percent focused, the metres go by almost faster than a steep climb through the woods.

And such pride, at the top, at having handled it. A fine climb we probably won't repeat.

Lake Geneva from the meadows
Flower meadow above the lake
The Sautodoz couloir
Christian facing Lake Geneva
Chalet on the ridge
View down to Lake Geneva

The evening

Lake Geneva on fire

At the summit, an ice cream and a Coke Zero to the aerial ballet of the alpine choughs, then the train down to Haut-de-Caux. In the evening, dinner with friends at Sonchaux, facing the lake.

The sun sinks behind the Jura and Lake Geneva flares pink and gold. The app announces sixty-one hours of recovery for Emmanuelle, twelve for Christian. Spot the mistake.

Pre-Alpine ridges
Pasture below the cliffs
Dent de Jaman
Sunset over Lake Geneva