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A volunteer is sought to assume complete editorial control of the Club’s quarterly Newsletter from the end of 2011, soliciting content, selecting that which is most appropriate, liaising with our proof-reader and interfacing directly with the graphics designer who takes care of layout. If this challenge is of genuine interest to you, please contact the Club Secretary via the AAC(UK) Office for further details.  

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Tour des Dents Du Midi

A little known area?

by Chris Culley

Booking a flight to attend the September 2007 Ollon-Villars Hillclimb, of the retrospective 1930s car event, near Aigle in the Rhone valley, Switzerland, I considered where to stay and decided upon Champery, a village I had vaguely heard of from skiing and the Tour des Dents du Midi (TDM).Transport links from Geneva Airport to Champery via Aigle and Monthey went smoothly and I found accommodation at the Hotel La Rose des Alpes. A chalet style hotel run by a British couple on behalf of a ski and mountain biking company.

Visiting the Tourist Office the following morning I established that the TDM is a three day tour with access from Champery at Bonavau. Not having three continuous days available I considered visiting Lac de Salanfe via Bonavau, Cabine de Susanfe and the Col de Susanfe at 2494m. However, the general consensus was that it would not be possible to complete it and return in a day on this eastern part of the tour.

Undeterred, I anticipated completion within nine to ten hours and set off. Descending from the Col de Susante, with the brilliant turquoise waters of the lake below sparkling in the sunshine and the mountains in sharp relief against the remaining winter snows, I had a thought! Why not continue to Mex via the Col du Jorat at 2210m and return to Champery by public transport rather than retracing my steps. Within five and a quarter hours the auberge was reached and then the Col du Jorat ascended. After this it was down hill all the way, literally, a thousand metre descent on an extremely steep track, finally easing off as Mex was approached in seven and a half hours, So an easy day after all, though there was 3331 m of ascent and descent!

After the Hillclimb in Ollon the western section of the TDM was completed, via Bonavau and Lac d’Anteme, as far as Valere, with a rather time consuming diversion to Lac de Soi and the ascent of Signal de Soi for a hazy view of Lake Geneva. Descending to Val d’Illiez, for public transport back to Champery, was another long, but relatively gently way down. The route completed taking nine hours in total. In conclusion: an interesting area with two other significant tours also possible from Champery; the Tour du Ruan and the Tour des Dents Blanche.

For more information and photos on the Dents du Midi see www.champery.ch

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Last updated 18 June 2008