Col d'Ajon
This summit with one paved and one unpaved approach was the
highpoint on a ramble over several low passes in the Geneva
area. A big reason is the view of Mont Blanc
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1.(730m,00.0km)START-END
NORTH ALT: Boege
2.(790m,03.0km)START-END NORTH: Villard
3.(1300m,08.7km)road on left connects with Plaine-Joux
4.(1411m,13.1km)TOP: Col d'Ajon
5.(920m,16.3km)START-END SOUTH: profile turns down
valley, north of Megevette
6.(600m,27.4km)START-END SOUTH ALT: Saint Jeoire
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Approaches
From North. The direct way up from D22 in
the Valle Verde starts in Villard. But I came from the north and
for this option you can leave the valley a little earlier in
Habere Lullin. This alternate approach is on an a narrower road
and threads between some especially flower studded old houses
and drinking water fountains. This alternate way descends less
than a 100meters to meet up with the wider main approach from
Villard

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both pictures:
descending into Megevette: a sliver of Mont Blanc is
barely visible between the clouds
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Now the road gets serious. It engages in 13 fairly seep
switchbacks, mainly in the forest. Slowly a gap ahead in the
woods can be imagined. The view now reaches obove the forested
ridge between here and Lake Geneva. In the collection of a few
houses marked Le Borbieu on the map a paved road apears to crest
a pass not far below. This is enough to make anybody scratch his
head and reach for a map or zoom out the GPS. The road in
question is the upper wester approach to Col de Plaine-Joux, and
a short paved road reaching down to it, illustrates that this is
another possible approach. On that option the pavement would be
a lot smoother than what is described here.
The climb to Col d'Ajon now reaches above the treeline and is
accompanied by the clanging of cows wearing monumental bells.
The top is soon reached. There is a parking lot and a building
of some sort. Unlike expected I did not see any evidence of food
and drink being served.
The view to the south includes high alps, including Mount
Blanc, or at least the clouds containing it, as if for
safekeeping for special moments. Nowhere on the top is there a
sign identifying this as a Col, but instead uses Ajon as a
placename
From South. (described downwards)
The road turns to rough dirt with rocks immediately at the top.
But a view of a few sharp cornered peaks to the north make the
couple of switchbacks go by fast, and the surface improves. Soon
it is paved again but still very narrow. With a few switchbacks
the road hones in on Megevette below, where a flower studded
simple fountain waits at the corner to D26. Now with more
traffic this wider road descends gently into Saint Jeoire. There
is a very short section of shelf road with overhanging rocks
with a Saint Mary Statue between the traffic and the dropoff.
Dayride with this point as highest summit:
Col d'Ajon , C3 La
Plagne s[u) , Col des Arces[1164m]
, Col de Cou[1116m] , D236
La Houile(sh) , additional out and back: Annemasse >
Saint Cerques > Machilly > Col de Cou <> out and
back from turnaround point 300f below Col de Cou <> top of
Col des Moises[1143m] > up Route des Arces > Col des Arces
> up C3 > C3 La Plagne s(u)[1180m] > out and back to
Tres les Mont > Col de Feu[shp] > Lullin > D26 north
> Bellevaux > Col de Jambaz[shp] > D236 La Houile (sh)[1100m]
> D22 east > Col de Teramont[shp] > up C5 Col d'Ajon
> Megevette > La Trappe > D26 east > back to
starting point in Annemasse : 73.3miles with7989ft of climbing
in 7:29hrs (Garmin etrex30 m4:14.7.15)
Notes: first day of really good weather after 8 days of
October in July. This ride touched on 7 passes (4 of them as
shoulder summits), and went over 5 summit points (including two
unnamed summit points). I think tthe 7 is a personal
record.
the last day with different start and end points on this tour is
on page: Mont Saleve northern
summit

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