Route des Crêtes

This classic route follows the main ridge of the High Vosges. I took the train to Saint-Dié, then a first pass (which marks the border between Lorraine and Upper Rhine) to reach Sainte-Marie aux Mines. From there, you start climbing to the Col des Bagenelles, then the Col du Bonhomme to reach the main ridge. Afterwards, you stay consistently at an elevation between 1000 and 1200 meters, passing by Lac Blanc, Gazon du Faing, Col de la Schlucht, the foot of Hohneck, Rainkopf, Herrenberg, and Hahnenbrunnen before arriving at Markstein and beginning the final ascent to Grand Ballon, with a cumulative positive elevation gain of 2200 meters.

Since the Route des Crêtes is very popular with tourists, there can be a significant presence of cars and motorcycles, so caution is needed. However, the varied landscapes and views along the road more than compensate for this inconvenience. I did it in early November, there had already been a bit of snow, and a large part of the road was officially closed to traffic. As a result, there were very few people, creating an almost magical atmosphere, with mountain ranges rising above a sea of fog in the plains.