Guest Book

Thank you for visiting. Please feel free to add your contribution to the Guestbook.


This site pointed me in a new direction	185
April 17 2014	Contributor: Maurits Paardekooper
Thank you making all these walks available through your website. I was looking for new inspiration for hiking in France. I stumbled upon this website and started reading. Your great description of the walks with the maps got me excited and I decided to go and check them out. I ended up spending a total of six weeks in 2013 on campsite La MartiniÃ¨re.

Grand Som from les Reyes	100
August 26 2011	Contributor: Hilary Palmer
Firstly - many thanks for such an informative website. My husband and I were in the area for 2 weeks and had a few free days when we weren't supporting the GB team (including our daughter) at the World Orienteering Champs last week. We had time for a couple of short walks and I chose this one for a longer walk. It was very enjoyable and all your directions and timings were spot on - just a couple of extra comments. The notice board at the Col du Bovinant said that the descent to Racape is dangerous. It was a fine day so we decided to go that way and it was absolutely fine. We didn't fancy going back the same way via the Col du Fret and all the zig zags and the gully and cable assisted section to Col des Aures was good. Maybe the warning is for days when it is wet or still some ice? Finding the little path from Col des Aures onto the ridge Crete des Aures took a bit of faffing as the first bit over the grass was a bit overgrown but there is a small cairn once in the wood which gives confidence. After the cairn the path goes up onto the ridge, then turn left and very soon the path becomes clearer and has red and green flashes on the trees to give confidence again. It is a lovely path along the ridge. The rest of the route back was OK following the map and your directions though I would add that the last section down the valley to rejoin the ascent path IS brutal and goes on for a bit longer than we expected - lots of small rocks and steep and quite tricky to keep one's balance but persevere and you do get back to the ascent path a bit above the signpost. Wonderful views on the tops and an interesting walk/scramble. We are 64 & 65 and pretty fit though my husband has one artificial hip so his flexibility isn't as good as it was and he was never good with 'exposed' walking (not good head for heights)but he had no problems with any of the walk - mind you I didn't tell him about the cables till we got to them!! Very many thanks - Hilary The Webmaster replies: Thank you for your comments, and congratulations to your daughter for notching up a very creditable time at the WOC. I'm glad you enjoyed your walk. That route is somewhat off the beaten track, and is all the better for it. You're right about the rather brutal forestry track. I suspect that it can be avoided by heading down into the pasture instead of onto the track, and following the pasture down to the start of the ascent on the Col du Fret (see the map), but I haven't had the opportunity to check it out. I also don't understand why a warning about the le Racape is deemed to be necessary - it's a lot easier than many well used paths that don't have warning notices. I grade the route as Grade 1, which "indicates general mountain terrain, the type that you will find on any typical British hill".

Holiday in Chartreuse 2011	99
August 14 2011	Contributor: Liz &David Evans
We would like to thank you for 'revealing' The Massif de la Chartreuse to us. We were looking for a new area of France to camp in when I came across your site. We camped at La Martiniere, a perfect site. We tramped up Charmont Som, Grande Sure, Dent de Crolles and Grand Som. Because we couldn't be sure of the start of the Grand Som as described in your notes, we opted to do the route in a clockwise direction by following the official yellow signs along the road past the monastery. All went well until on the way down having passed the finger post to la Diat in the woods near Col du Frenay I failed to find the the Sentier Culturel and we found ourselves on a series of unmarked minor paths! After stumbling for an hour or more on compass we came out a 100m south of la Virge statue arriving at la Correrie some 9hrs after the start. Your Guides are excellent although we couldn't find the path labelled 'Evocations et Empreints' at the start. Maybe we were having a Senior Moment, both being in our mid seventies, which leads me to say I can't recommend it highly enough for anyone getting on a bit and looking to stretch their legs. Thank you again for pointing us to this beautiful area. The Webmaster replies: Thank you for your kind comments, and I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed the area. I'm sorry to hear about your minor epic on the Grand Som, and I will check with someone who has done the route recently about whether the 'Evocations et Empreintes' route has been 'de-signposted'.

Website Enhancements	98
July 29 2011	Contributor: Webmaster
The Webmaster writes: This is just to say that the site has recently undergone a major update. 1. A new route has been added to the Grande Sure (Rocher de Lorzier - strongly recommended). 2. The route up Charmant Som from la Diat has been modified so that the descent now follows the path below the cliffs of the Arête de Bérard - an improvement. 3. More photographs have been added, and most are now displayed with a width of 600 pixels, rather than 500 pixels. 4. Many minor modifications have been made. The PDF files have also been updated.

La chartreuse	92
March 29 2011	Contributor: Pam & Mal Schofield
We have a home in Corenc La providence and visit regularly in all seasons. The Chartreuse is our back garden and such a delight when the weather allows. For the days when the cloud is all around you, descent into the valley provides a range of experiences from the Trieves in the south to the canal linking the Rhone and Lac Bourget in the north.This beautiful website does justice to this wonderland of nature. The Webmaster replies: Thank you for your kind words. You are indeed very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

Time for One Hike	91
March 28 2011	Contributor: Mike from Denver, Colorado
This may seem like a silly question but I will be driving through the Massif de la Chartreuse heading towards Geneva airport in July of this year. I will have time for one hike that can last a couple hours. I would like to take one where the scenery will make you go "wow". Which one would you suggest? The Webmaster replies: It's not a silly question at all! Be warned that Chartreuse is not that an easy place to drive into and out of, so do allow yourself a bit of time for the drive. But I suggest that you drive through the massif from south to north, from Voreppe to Chambery. This will allow you to travel through the spectacular Guiers Mort Gorge, through the village of St. Pierre de Chartreuse, and from there to St. Pierre d'Entremont. Here you can go east into the Cirque de St. Meme, which is a beautiful location. There is a wonderful hike past some splendid waterfalls, and if you have time, you can visit the springs from which the river issues and the entrance to the Guiers Vif cave. A brief description of the location may be found at: http://www.braemoor.co.uk/chartreuse/aulpduseuil/aulpduseuil.shtml. A description of the route (with photos) may be found at: http://www.braemoor.co.uk/chartreuse/aulpduseuil/habertdame.shtml. Note the latter route goes on to visit the tops, whereas you would return down an easy track having visited the waterfalls. From St. Pierre d'Entremont, continue your drive to the north past the magnificent northern face of Mont Granier (http://www.braemoor.co.uk/chartreuse/photos/graniercliffs.shtml) and down into Chambery. You can pick up the autoroute to Geneva. I hope this helps.

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