Col de la Croix Fry via Col de Plan Bois
By Will • Jan 4th, 2012 • Category: Climbs, Cycling
One of my very favourite winter alps climbs. Save this ride for a sunny day and the views are simply fantastic.
From Thônes, I first climbed the lovely, little-known, and very steep Col de Plan Bois.
Warning, in winter this road is often not very well cleared and thus the steep stretches can be quite slippery. Great views of La Tournette, the mountain behind me (Lake Annecy is behind it).
The first kilometre on the other side of Col de Plan Bois is not closed. I hiked through the deep snow. This is the path:
If hiking through snow is not your thing, as long as there has been no recent snow, the direct route up to Col de la Croix Fry – the way I descended (see map) – will be fine for a road bike. Last February, I used a road bike for a similar route but excluded Plan Bois and added Col des Aravis. Details here.
The rest of the steep descent is in shade and very slippery. I gingerly descended with a foot often on the ground. This is not for the faint of heart.
The fun starts again once the road turns up towards Col de la Croix Fry. The views of the huge l’Etale and it’s surrounding mountains make this a magical ascent:
At Col de la Croix Fry, there was lots of activity at the Manigod ski station. I continued on the not difficult little extension to Col de Merdassier along snowy but not icy roads.
Doubling back to Col de la Croix Fry, I had a coffee at one of the restaurants while dressing myself for the very cold descent:
As usual, this annual winter pilgrimage left me smiling.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2013 Challenge is to cycle a 150 Cols (mountain passes), slowly -- and to just enjoy.
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Already done but in summer ! Crazy guy…
Glad to see you back on the bike. Did this climb in August in the pouring rain- the descent was interesting!
Beautiful pictures. Was looking at the webcams last week- we’ve summered in the area the last 4 years and it’s beautiful. Would love to be there now-on skis!
Will Beautiful photos – but I might give it a miss, I would be descending with both feet on the ground.,
That’s a nice site you have there, having seen the picture of the #2 Les Lacets de Montvernier,
We fancy giving it a go, looks really spectacular. Was it a hard one?
We see that you have also done les Croisettes on the Mt Saleve, great stuff,
I suffered up that bad boy.
Out of interest, how do you bring up a map with the elevation onto your blog?
regards,
James