- French
An up-trip on the Foilleuse gondola lift takes the sting out of this hike, which offers spectacular views from ridge leading to the Pointe de l'Au, and a bucolic return through the idyllic They Valley.
Télécabine (haut) – Pertuis Chétrain – Pointe de l’Au – Tovassière – They – Morgins
This hike is for those who prefer hiking downhill as it starts with a fun ride on the La Foilleuse gondola lift in Morgins (timetables and prices on www.pds-ch.ch).
From the lift, walk past the Là Ò restaurant and follow the ridge to your right which climbs gently to a summit at 1,901 metres before descending slightly towards the Pertuis Chétrain * crossing.
From here, continue straight, passing near the Bochasses chairlift arrival station. The small, marked path begins a little below the ridge, then rises to meet it. To reach the summit of Pointe de l’Au at 2,152 metres, the highest point of your hike, you can choose between a narrow path which climbs to the right of a third chairlift or along the wide path further down below.
Descend the ridge by a path which joins the Col des Portes du Soleil at 1,950 metres **.
Here the trail widens and provides a view of the Fontaines Blanches waterfalls as you head toward the friendly Tovassière alpine restaurant (you can buy some of the famous alpine cheese produced on the alp). From here, a path descends straight down to reach Sassey. The walk then continues along the Vièze (take a small detour at the Fontaines Jaunes), passing by the alpine restaurant agriturismo du Vieux They and the Sentier des Ponts, on the way to Morgins.
* Short variation : 2h (altitude difference: positive 150 metres / negative 650m)
In Pertuis Chétrain, you can shorten the walk by going directly down towards Bonavau and the restaurant agriturismo du Vieux They.
** Long variation : +45 min. :
At the Col Portes du Soleil, climb up Col Portes de l’Hiver and descend via Lac Vert / Refuge de Chésery then take the direction Lac de Chésery / Fontaines Blanches.