Col d'Arlaz, from Grand Hoel

Introduction

In particularly snowy winters, some routes become practicable with snowshoes. The itinerary proposed here falls into this category: the altitude, exposure and total absence of objective risks make it practicable after a good snowfall at low altitude!

Description

From the car park (there is a fountain nearby), walk briefly along the road to Col d'Arlaz until you reach a signpost: turn right and start climbing up the snow-covered mule track that leads to Col d'Arlaz. In the first part of the ascent, skirt the irrigation channel that descends from the pass; enter the birch and larch forest and, after a few minutes, pass the road that leads to the pass. The climb becomes gentler and soon you come to a fence: follow it until you reach the Moulin d'Arlaz (1000m, 0h20'). Over a small bridge, cross the gully and continue the ascent until you reach a beautiful plateau at the foot of the pass: walk up the snow-covered pastureland, without any obligatory path, until you reach Col d'Arlaz (1,030m, 0h30'), where there are signposts.
Turn right and head towards the tsan field: just before the latter, turn left and continue along the snow-covered track. Walk up a slight incline until you come to a small relief; turn left and follow the track, which is practically level, through patches of downy oak. At a crossroads, turn left and, after a small hairpin bend, begin to descend until reaching the Molignon (1037m, 0h55'). After leaving the short clearing, you will soon reach another fork in the road: temporarily omit the right turn (left on the return) to follow the track downhill until you reach the first cottages of Barmata; after a right turn, follow the track to its end to reach Barmata (964m, 1h10): it is worth taking this short detour to see this small village, not inhabited on a permanent basis, a pleasant return to the past.
After the short visit, retrace your steps as far as the previous fork: here turn left and follow the track until you come to a beautiful balcony from which you can appreciate a series of beautiful views of Champdepraz, Montjovet and the area of the Park of the Mont Avic. Continue on the track, making a slight turn to the right and heading back towards Col d'Arlaz; slowly exit the forest and reach the large clearing of the tsan field: once you reach the latter, cross it and begin to descend the beautiful snow-covered basin until you reach Moulin d'Arlaz, where you take the path you took at the beginning and descend back to the starting point.