High Altitude Cappuccino

🗺️ Overview Starting point: Feydey (1400 m), above Leysin Highest point: Approx. 1550 m Total elevation gain: ~150 m Total distance: ~4 km Total time: ~2 h Technical difficulty: K5 (very athletic via ferrata) Download GPS file The via ferrata Planpraz is probably the closest to a village I’ve ever done. It is located just above Leysin . To get there, we left the car in Feydey (1400 m), which can also be reached by train. From there you continue uphill on the road. Where it bends, you can go both ways: on the left around the church or on the right via a shortcut uphill (see GPS). In about 10 minutes, signs indicate a path on the left side of the road. It is the same path leading to La Berneuse at the beginning, but after a couple of minutes you reach a crossroads where the path to La Berneuse goes left and the via ferrata, clearly marked, continues straight uphill.  Another 5–10 minutes on a rather steep path lead to the start of the via ferrata.  The via r...

Download GPS file This hike starts at the Parking Les Frasses above La Babeleuse in Gryon. You can get there via a small road forking up hill in front of the Babeleuse parking. I did this hike as a snowshoe. In fact I wanted to do it as a skitouring hike but I had forgotten my skins at home... The hike is part of the Villars-Gryon randopark, a very well marked and kept set of winter trails. The trail starts uphill in front along the ski slope. I confess that I did not fully follow the path, especially at the lower part, because the slope was closed and the path was not well covered. So I preferred to go straight up on the slope which is a bit steeper. After 20-30 min you'll cross the blue slope and then after another 5 min the trail becomes less steep and then completely flattens going next to a couple of chalets. When it starts to climb again it is the best part of the trail. You go on a ridge abd see the slopes below and mountains all around. You will reach a crossroads where sev...

🗺️ Overview Starting point: Lac de Bret (700 m) Highest point: Tour de Gourze (939 m) Total elevation gain: ~310 m Total distance: ~7 km Total time: 2.5 h (adult) / 5 h with small child (including picnic & play) Technical difficulty: Easy – suitable for families and children Download GPS file The Tour de Gourze stands at the very beginning of the Alps, in the gentle Prealpine hills just above the Lavaux area. It was a sunny November day when I decided to go with Gaia. You can reach the tower from several sides. The route I describe here starts from Lac de Bret , above Puidoux (700 m). You can park your car by the lakeshore next to the restaurant. At the corner of the lake, a small asphalt road climbs upward — there are hiking signs, though no destinations indicated yet. After a short ascent, the path briefly descends, where you’ll find the first signposts pointing left to Puidoux and right to Tour de Gourze . The climb resumes on the asphalt road, p...

  🗺️ Overview Starting point: Café de Luan (1220 m) Highest point: Chaux de Tompey (2015 m) or Chaux Mont (2200 m, optional) Total elevation gain: ~650 m (up to 1000 m if extended to Chaux Mont) Total distance: ~8 km (loop via La Berneuse ~11 km) Total time: 3 h 30 Technical difficulty: Moderate – steep in sections, a few unclear trail points Download GPS file Above Aigle lies an unknown corner of the Chablais. Unlike its neighbouring tourist hubs, Leysin and Villars,  Corbeyrier  feels rural and quiet—as if you’re the only wanderer around. The hike starts at Café de Luan (1220 m), just five minutes above Cobyrier. The café has its own parking, reserved for clients, but you’ll usually find a few spots on the grassy roadside nearby. On busy sunny days, you may need to leave the car in Cobyrier and either walk up (about 45 minutes) or take the small bus that runs once per hour. Shortly after the café, signs on the right indicate the path uphill toward Col de T...