Arête de Coicon (normal route)

Approach

The Arête de Coicon is the easiest route to climb on the top of the Mont de Grange.
Start point : Châtel or Abondance

-From Châtel take the road direction col de Bassachaux. Stop 2 km after Plaine Draine (village of alpine pasture chalets and restaurants) at the point 1735m. Walk down to the chalets of Grands Plans (1648m). After 1 km you reach the GR5 and you take it direction Lenlevay.

-From Abondance, two possibilities :
1) take the road to Sur la Fontaine and Sur la Ravine. Then take the little road at the left to Follebin. In the 6th turn, go direction La Plagnette and park there. Pass near the St Theodule chapel, cross the torrent Cheneau de Grange to the chalets of Covillet (1430m) and to the farms of Bailly (1540m) and Jouly-dessous (1689m). Higher you come to the farm of Lenlevay (1740m).

2) take the road to Les Plagnes and park at the end of the road near the Plagnes Lake and St Ann Chapel (1191 m). Walk up the trail to Chalets de Lens (1547 m), a typical alpine pasture. Take left to Lenlevay

Route Description

Follow the trail direction Cornillon and then at the left don't miss the little path in the bush of alders (indication Mont de Grange). Many hoofprints can mislead you.
You reach higher the grass-covered crest of Coicon (beautiful view to Chatel) and the way up becomes obvious. A rock group is conturned by the left. Beaufiful view direction Plagnes Lake and Pointe de Chavache.
Pass the shoulder and reach the summit (cross) through a still in late-summer snow-capped rock chaos.

Essential Gear

No gear is necessary. Telescopic sticks are useful.

Images

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