Cormet d'Areches
While on the top of the adjacent Cormet
de Roselend probably multiple groups of cyclists
posed for pictures, I didn't see a single other two
wheeled traveler, bicycle or motor bike on this
crossing. The Cormet d'Areches is very scenic and
reaches higher than the Cormet de Roselend. But this
road is unpaved and a mountain bike is better for this
surface.
picture page

|
01.(00.0km,342m)
START-END NORTH ALT: Albertville, bridge over Arly
02.(08.3km,537m) turnoff on left goes over Col de
la Forclaz
03.(14.7km,704m) Villard sur Doron
04.(18.5km,741m) START-END NORTH: Beaufort
05.(24.5km,1132m) Areches: turnoff to Col du Pre
is on left
06.(30.3km,1570m) route reaches Lac de Saint
Guerin
07.(37.9km,2107m) TOP: Col d'Areches
08.(43.0km,1656m) Laval
09.(58.8km,678m) START-END SOUTH: Aime
10.(72.2km,480m) START-END SOUTH ALT: Moutiers |
Approaches
From West. Looking at the route on
the map, the initial approach between Beaufort and Areches
is a side road, compared with the parallel, initial approach
to Cormet de Roselend .
But in my experience it has more traffic. But it all goes to
the town Areches. After that a peaceful paved road stays
fairly close to the valley bottom until it reaches the
barrage de guerin. Here a sign with a Beaufort Cow as logo
congratulates you on having climbed this one way paved
summit.
From here on small signs, directed towards hikers,
point the way to the Cormet d'Areches at every intersection.
But the pavement continues quite a distance further up. Now
climbing above the reservoir, le Grand Mont (a little below
2700 meters) takes on a wedge shaped appearance. The road
cut for the path we are on, can be seen ahead, up to a point
where it disappears in a gap. It looks like it could be a
pass, but a waterfall also originates in this gap, so the
pass must be higher. After the road changes to dirt it is
definitely rough enough to merit a mountain bike. The pass
itself cannot be seen from below. It comes very unexpectedly
after a left turn, soon after passing the gap originating
the water fall. There is a large sign on top, that makes a
good foreground for photos in several directions.

summit of Cormet d'Areches
From East. (described downwards). A
hundred meters below the top, a magnificent vista to the
west opens up. These high peaks are in the Vanoise National
Park. Descending through tundra, the curves in the
switchbacks become paved, while the ramps remain dirt road.
When the entire road becomes paved the descend becomes very
fast and straight. Emerging above the valley, still 1000 m
above its floor, the road connects 3 high villages along the
long ramped descend. All of them have the locally
characteristic church towers and narrow passages through the
villages.
The profile continues North to Moutiers.
Along the way the National Route goes through a long tunnel.
It's well lit and also has a bike lane. Connecting below
Moutiers to Albertville takes a little time sorting out on a
first ride. Many signs, directed at motor vehicles,
constantly lead the cyclist onto the National Route. This
road however is closed to bicycles below Moutiers, and the
cyclist has to look for the adjacent, unsigned service road.

the eastern descend of Cormet d'Areches curves towards
treeline with serpentines,
as a thunderstorm threatens
Dayride:
PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED
Cormet d'Areches, Col
du Pre x2: Queige > Beaufort > Areches
<> Boudin > Col du Pre > to turnaround point:
jct D922[to cormet de Roselend] << back over Col du
Pre > Areches >> Cormet d'Areches > Aime >
Moutiers > Albertville > sp: 82.0miles with 9160ft
of climbing in 7:48hrs (VDO MC1.0 m4:12.6.20)
The last summit with different start and end points on
this
Extended Tour
was
Cormet
de Roselend