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The starting point of the route is located in the centre of Risoul resort, on Route de Chérine. In practical terms, park in one of the car parks in Risoul resort.
There are two starting options:
According to the route on the map, from the resort centre (S/E), head to the ski lifts and take the forest path that heads north-west.
Not marked but recommended: start from the Pelinche car park. To get there, coming from the valley, just after the "Risoul 1850" sign, turn right at a sharp angle. Go under a small tunnel, pass the coach park and park as high up as possible before the buildings. At the end of the road, there is a turning circle where you can turn around. On foot, from the car park, walk up to the turning circle. Then turn right at an acute angle and go through a metal barrier. Immediately turn left and walk uphill. Join the route at the point (1).
(1) Follow the forest path towards the north-west (straight ahead if coming from the centre of the resort, to the right if coming from the Pelinche car park). Go through a metal barrier, climb uphill, make a hairpin turn to the left then one to the right and you will come to an intersection (signpost).
(2) Take the path on the left and climb towards the viewpoint. Cross a perpendicular path and you will come to a T-junction.
(3) Turn left and climb more gently.
(4) At the next junction, turn right. Climb steeply again, parallel to a power line. You will come to a mountain pasture and continue along the gently ascending path.
(5) Turn left onto a path (faded yellow markings) and ignore a track on the right. Climb a rocky, unnamed secondary summit (elevation 2289).
(6) Descend on the other side. Then continue climbing towards the clearly visible antennas. Shortly before the summit, leave the antennas and the upper station of a chairlift on your right and head for the summit cairn behind a restaurant.
(7) Follow a track to the north-west, leaving the restaurant on your right. You will soon reach the upper stations of the ski lifts.
(8) Follow a path westwards towards the Crête de Martinat.
(9) At a fork, turn right, still heading towards Crête de Martinat. Cross gently across an alpine pasture and reach the ridge.
(10) Follow the ridge northwards and downhill. Alternate between moderate and steeper slopes. Pass through a first gate giving access to an alpine pasture (animals in summer). Leave the pasture through a second gate and you will immediately reach a crossroads (shelter; picnic table).
(11) Turn right at an acute angle (south-east) onto a wide forest path. Alternate between gently sloping ascents and descents. This will take you to Lac du Pré du Laus (very busy in summer).
(12) Continue along the path and climb. At the fork that appears shortly afterwards, keep to the right and climb towards Risoul. Ignore a few paths on the right, descend and rejoin the intersection taken at the start of the hike.
(2) Continue downhill on the path, which has a few sharp bends. Pass through another metal barrier and continue downhill. You will reach an intersection near the resort buildings.
(1) Here you have two options, depending on your starting point:
- To reach the Pelinche car park, turn left then right. At the roundabout, turn left to reach the car park.
- To reach the resort centre, continue straight ahead and follow the same route as on the way there until you reach (S/E).
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