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Col des Aravis spot

Col des Aravis snowkite spot

France · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Spot currently openAltitude 1,493 m 45.87 | 6.46

Overview

Mid-mountain spot, located at the border between Haute-Savoie and Savoie, easily accessible due to the mountain pass that is normally always open.

Regarding the terrain, it's a basin opening towards the WNW direction (La Clusaz) and east (La Giettaz) and closed by the slopes of Borderan to the north and the Etale massif to the south.

The spot is not large (about 1km²), consisting of some flat areas but mostly slopes that rise quickly. On the south side, it's the starting point for many ski tours. Not too many rocks, it's a pasture area.

Three restaurants are present on site.

To get an idea, two reports can be consulted:

- in December 2021

- in December 2023

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Spot forecast for Col des Aravis

Sunrise 07:57 · Sunset 18:40

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Col des Aravis: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

15h

in April · 2.5 rideable days

The season runs from February to April, peaking in April: 2 rideable days a month and 15 hours of usable wind, at 6 °C. The low point is January, at 0 days.

Rideable days per month

0 1 2 3 January: 0 rideable days0 d J February: 0.5 rideable days F March: 2 rideable days M April: 2.5 rideable days2.5 d A May: 0 rideable days0 d M June: 0 rideable days0 d J July: 0 rideable days0 d J August: 0 rideable days0 d A September: 0 rideable days0 d S October: 0 rideable days0 d O November: 0 rideable days0 d N December: 1 rideable days D 0 1 2 3 January: 0 rideable days0 d J February: 0.5 rideable days F March: 2 rideable days M April: 2.5 rideable days2.5 d A May: 0 rideable days0 d M June: 0 rideable days0 d J July: 0 rideable days0 d J August: 0 rideable days0 d A September: 0 rideable days0 d S October: 0 rideable days0 d O November: 0 rideable days0 d N December: 1 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 100%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 100% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 3 °C. The wettest month is September, with 306 mm. Snow depth peaks in February, at 52 cm.

Monthly averages: Col des Aravis
Monthly averages — Col des Aravis — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 0.0 0 h 3 °C 255 mm
February 0.5 2 h 5 °C 107 mm
March 2.0 10 h 5 °C 87 mm
April 2.5 15 h 9 °C 120 mm
May 0.0 0 h 12 °C 211 mm
June 0.0 0 h 18 °C 191 mm
July 0.0 0 h 18 °C 162 mm
August 0.0 0 h 20 °C 179 mm
September 0.0 0 h 13 °C 306 mm
October 0.0 0 h 11 °C 209 mm
November 0.0 2 h 6 °C 173 mm
December 1.0 7 h 4 °C 136 mm

Photo gallery of Col des Aravis

  • Col des Aravis — photo 1
  • Col des Aravis — photo 2
  • Col des Aravis — photo 3
  • Col des Aravis — photo 4
  • Col des Aravis — photo 5

Spot video

Technical details of Col des Aravis spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Rideable ENE: Rideable E: Rideable ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Depending on conditions NW: Rideable NNW: Depending on conditions N E S W

The spot works with winds from NE, ENE, E, NW.

Depending on conditions: WNW, NNW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot opening date
Spot opening date
Open all year round

Depending on snow conditions

Spot type
Normal (Car access at spot edge)
Altitude
1,493 m
Parking

Two parking areas at the pass. During the peak winter season, avoid parking in the restaurant parking lots (due to clientele).

It's possible to park along the roadside, but it depends on the snow banks. Be careful, the road is rather busy.

Wind specificities

Very good wind orientation from E to NE to explore the spot and climb the slopes located to the south (only orientation tested to date during two sessions).

The NW wind (rather rare) allows you to go a bit lower towards La Clusaz.

 

Hazards

Some usual snow slides on the Borderan side, don't go up too high: steep slope.

Some fences dot the flat area + presence of a gully marking the stream that flows down from the place "La Grande Montagne".

Tourist helicopter landing zone behind the Les Rhodos restaurant: don't get too close during rotations.

Be careful of hikers heading towards Combe à Marion as well as cars traveling on the road.

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Directory: France

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