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Col des Aravis This popular
summit in the Chaines des Aravis seems
well used by cyclists, motorcyclists,
shoppers, and people who like to have
restaurant meals on top of mountain
passes. There must have been hundreds of
each category on a Friday in mid June. But
the road is wide enough to accommodate all
the traffic.
From South. Heading
north from Flumet, the Chaine des Aravis looks
like a vertical green wall, with a layer of
decorative bricks on top. The location of the
pass is an obvious low spot to the left of the
road. The ride goes through Giettaz, a ski
resort, but one with nice old houses and a
church too. Approaching the top, the white
eminence of Mont Blanc makes an appearance
after you exit a short tunnel. The top is
heavily commercialized with souvenir shops, at
least one restaurant and several stores. From North. (described
downwards) But the wild flowers take over
again as soon as you start descending. They
make a foreground for the last views of Mont
Blanc, while all the businesses have already
disappeared below the horizon. Long
switchbacks lead to "les Etages". Looking back
- the Chain des Aravis now resembles a series
of crooked shark teeth , very sharp and
vertical. In les Etages the first signed
turnoff leads to Col de la Croix
Fry. But The elevation profile continues
downhill into la Clusaz. A Dayride with this pass
as intermediate summit is on page: Col des Saises The last pass ride with
different start and end points on this Extended
Tour was: Cormet de
Roselend
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