Grand Chavalard

Overview

The Grand Chavalard stands in the south-west of Switzerland above the Rhône Valley, near the town of Martigny and the village of Fully.

The Grand Chavalard and the Dent de Morcles are the most western situated summits of the Muverans Group (highest summit is Grand Muveran 3051 m). This Group spreads from the Rhône Valley to the Diablerets.

The summit is located between the Lakes of Fully, the Col de Fénestral and the villages of Fully, in the Rhône Valley, and Ovronnaz, near the Grand Muveran.

The Grand Chavalard, it is the mountain of Fully... which it overhangs the top of its 2901 meters.

For more informations about the country of Fully and the Valais ... take a look at TopRando.ch

Getting There

Nearest airports are Sion (20 km) or Geneva (120 km)

Easier start point to climb the Grand Chavalard is L'Erié (1850 m), that you can reach by :

- the highway A9 Lausanne/Sion, exit Martigny/Fully
- at Fully, take the little road of Chiboz
- then, the road without practicable coating of Randonne.

When To Climb

In summer only

Camping

The Hut of Sorniot is between the two lakes, at 2060 meters, with crossroads of Erié, Col de Fénestral, and Demècre. The mountain pasture of Sorniot is right at side. The place is attended enough !

The Hut of Demècre is located on the edge which connects the Dent de Morcles to the Head of the Portail of Fully, at 2360 meters...

The Hut of Fénestral is with 2440 meters, on the back of Chavalard, with the Col de Fénestral, which make it possible to join Ovronnaz and Muverans, and the Rambert Hut...

The Grand Cor

With the foot of the Dent de Morcles and Tita Sèri, the large rock projecting ledge of Grand Cor dominates the Col de Fénestral and the Lakes Sorniot.

At the bottom of the Grand Cor, a small lake... but no more water !
A little sweetness abd freshness in this cluster of rocks would be well appreciated.

The place makes the happiness of the spéléos with its "pits" from which the galleries go down until almost 600 meters under ground.

For more informations, look at the Groupe spéléo de Lausanne !

The Tour of Grand Chavalard

The Tour of Grand Chavalard is an excursion of 13 km which leaves unforgettable memories.

The ideal starting point is at Erié. One can make the course in the two directions, but I prefer to start by going up in north towards Petit Pré and Grand Pré, to reach with 2450 meters the Col de Fénestral. It is the climax of the day, that one reaches thus already after 5 km of way.

Top of the Col de Fénestral, while being turned over towards Ovronnaz, one can admire Six Armaille and Haut-de-Cry, as well as the area of Muverans... and southern side, Sorniot and the Lakes Fully.

At the top of the Col, the Hut of Fénestral and the beginning of the narrow path and badly marked which leads to the Grand Cor.

Pedestrian races

The great classic race is Fully-Sorniot !... more than 1600 meters of uneven, and what a uneven!
It takes place each year at the end of September.
The departure is given to the Belle Usine. Fastest reach the arrival with the Hut of Sorniot in 1 hour !

The Vertical Kilometer skirts the rail installed above the buried pressure pipe of the electric factory. The last section is particularly abrupt !
The race takes place at at the end of October. The best arrives at the top in less than 35 minutes.

External Links

• Swissgeo
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• Alpimages
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• MountainGuide
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• Montagne-photos
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• Skirando Camptocamp
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• SkiTour
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• ValaisPano
  Panoramic photographs of the Swiss Alps
• Alpes-Photos
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• Montagne.ch
  Directory of the Swiss Mountain
• TopRando
  My Web site of Swiss Alps