Col de Pitons
Mont Saleve is a 18km long, mostly forested ridge south of
Geneva. On a clear day the ridge is a perfect far vantage
point onto Geneva as well as the western alps. This
mountains has two named paved passes and one named summit.
Col de Pitons is the highest of the three by a few meters.
Of the three it is also the quietest spot, with the best
views onto the western alps from its upper southern
approach. But of course you could ride along the crest over
all three summit points.
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1.(640m,00.0km)
START-END NORTH: jct D15-D48, north of La Muraz
2.(1175m,11.3km)Col de Croisette(shp)
3.(1335m,11.4km)TOP: Col de Pitons
4.(790m,22.5km)START-END SOUTH: north side of
Cruseiles
5.(700m,28.0km)START-END SOUTH ALT: D27 bridge over
Les Usses
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Approaches
From North. The profile climbs Col de la
Croisette from the east side. Most of this approach is fairly
gentle and in the forest. The last couple of km are steeper and
slowly approach tree line with an open view. The pass has many
buildings and businesses, that are happy to sell food and drink
for copious amounts of euros.
The profile leaves all these businesses behind and turns
south along the ridge. The road stays east of the crest, and in
the beginning there are a few views of Lake Geneva, which form
this vantage point can be seen with its length compressed. A few
wide curves meander scenically above treeline - but then - even
though still climbing ever so gently, the road enters forest
again. And that's when you find a sign next to the road stating
"Col de Pitons 1335m"
From South. There is no view from
the summit, and the road stays at roughly the same elevation for
maybe about 2 km. I found a particularly nice picnic bench under
a shady tree for my lunch stop a few km further down, with the
panoramic view from the Chartreuse to Mont Blanc onward to les
Voirons. Three out of the four pictures below were taken at that
spot. Past this, the long meandering descent starts gently and
continues for a total of many circles of rotation to Cruseilles.
Staying on the signed bike route ,the Mont Saleve boucle, the
road climbs slightly again towards the north. But choose any
other direction and the downhill continues. For example, the
profile descends towards the west to a low point between Mt
Salveve and the Plateau des Bornes
Dayride with this point as highest summit:
COMPLETELY PAVED:
Col des Pitons , Mont
Saleve northern summit , Plateau
des Bornes s(u) : Annemasse > Monte du Mont Saleve
> Col de Croisette(shp) > Col de Pitons > Cruseilles
> D278 and others west > following signs for Plateau des
Bornes Sud bike route > La Chapelle Rambaud > Plateau des
Bornes s(u) > La Roche sur Foron > back to starting point
in Annemasse with detours: 55.4miles with 4918ft of climbing in
5:37hrs (Garmin etrex30 m4:14.7.16).
the last day with different start and end points on this tour
is on page: Mont Saleve
northern summit

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