SmaylaRoad & trail journals

On foot · Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Haute-Savoie · August 2024

Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Lac de Vogealle and the Bout du Monde

A hike Christian had long dreamed of, from the campsite at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval: Lac de Vogealle, the refuge, then the Bout du Monde. About 20 kilometres and 1,400 metres of climbing, long and sustained, in crushing heat.

Date
August 2024
Distance
20 km
Elevation gain
1,400 m
Stops
Lac de Vogealle · Bout du Monde
The waterfalls of the Bout du Monde

The route · indicative

The climb

Straight up

An early start along the Giffre. The first section is in the rock: 300 or 400 metres straight up, without looking down. At least we did it in the shade.

After that, we climb and climb under a blazing sun. A hard day, but the goal is reached: Lac de Vogealle, below the back of the Dents Blanches.

The Giffre in the early morning
Steep section in the rock
The valley at the start
Rock wall and sun
Christian at Lac de Vogealle

The way back

To the Bout du Monde

The Vogealle refuge is charming and friendly. The descent, as advised by the wardens, crosses limestone pavement and a ravine before dropping steeply down a little path of rolling stones.

At the bottom we turn towards the end of the cirque, the famous Bout du Monde and its waterfalls. Then about 6 kilometres back to the campsite. Christian wanted to see the lake and the Bout du Monde: goal achieved.

The Vogealle refuge
Limestone pavement below a summit
Christian on the way down
Plunging view over the cirque
The waterfalls of the Bout du Monde
The Fer-à-Cheval cirque