In snowshoes up to Col de Joux

Châtillon motorway exit. Turn right towards saint-Vincent. Just before you reach Casinò you see directions for Col de Joux. You drive through several villages and after Amay, you come to the Chapel of the Partisans and just after a right-hand, hairpin bend you find a large car park to leave your car.

Opposite the car park you can find the start to a snow-covered track that climbs above the small park surrounding the Chapel of the Partisans. Once past the no-entry sign, you follow a short, almost flat section of the path until you reach a junction a few minutes later: here you ignore the left fork and continue going gently uphill towards Monte Zerbion. Along this section, you can enjoy some interesting panoramic views over the central valley and, in particular, across to the unmistakable silhouette of Mont Emilius. You slowly make your way into the larch wood which gradually gives way to some stunning examples of red spruce until you reach a second and less evident junction than the previous one: you ignore the right-hand fork and continue straight on, going gently upwards. The path proceeds in pleasant fashion beneath the unusual peaks that make up the southern ridge round Zerbion, until it reaches the junction point with route 107: here you make a sharp, right-hand turn almost making a U-turn. You go briefly uphill again and then start downwards once more until you meet another signpost, where you turn left and go past a covered tank, before climbing upwards again along a short section. As you walk through the woods, some small openings in the thick vegetation allow you to enjoy some interesting views over the central valley. You go downhill again once more and approach Fromy, a small village nestling in a beautiful clearing. The path starts to climb again and leads you once more into the thick, red spruce wood where the sunlight creates some interesting light and shade effects. You are almost at the destination when the ups and downs come to an end. You continue to follow the wide, well-beaten track, going through the wood until you meet another signpost and, soon after the charge basins for the Ru Courtaud waters: here you turn slightly to the right, taking a path which leads you downhill and finally to Col de Joux.