4 August 2015
I took a sublime hike in the “Beaufortain” on Tuesday last week: it took me from “Fort de la Platte” (1993m) to the Col de la Nova (2811m) to discover the Five Lakes. I was looking for a route to combine the pleasure of hiking and swimming with these high temperatures. I enjoyed taking a dip in Lake Cornu at halfway.
The Lakes Forclaz are of immeasurable beauty and the views are from the magnificent Col de La Nova on the Col du Fond, Pointe de Presset, the breach of Parozan, the Aiguille du Grand Fond, off Mount Blanc, Mont Pourri and a number of other peaks.
Col de la Nova (2811m) from the Fort de la Platte – Lakes Forclaz, Five Lakes
Practical information:
Map: Map IGN 3532ET to the Col de La Forclaz then 3532OT
Departure altitude: 1890m (“Plan Pezet” – “Fort de la Platte parking”).
Arrival altitude: 2811m.
Vertical drop: 921m.
Schedule: 2:45 to 3:00 climb, descent 2:00
Description of the route:
At Plan Pezet, park there, follow the road to the Fort. From the “Fort de la Platte” take the wide track that climbs well. After 300 meters turn left onto a well-marked path, which dominates the valley Chardonnet, in the direction of the five lakes. Bear right taking a wide path that climbs gradually to the Col of Forclaz 2365 m. Go down to join the stream of Forclaz, cross it and turn left, the trail rises slightly to the “Lac d’Esola” that lies right below. Continue on the same trail, becoming steeper to reach in 10 minutes “Lac Riondet”. Continue as the “Lac Cornu” is nearby as well as the “Lac Verdet”. The slope increases to reach the “Lac Noir”, the fifth and last lake. For the more adventurous, extend the climb; the rise becomes more pronounced to arrive in 25 minutes at the “Col de la Nova”.
Descent by the same route.
