To get to the starting point, drive up the Ubaye Valley towards Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye. Take the D25, a small road that leads to the Maljasset hikers' car park.
(S/E) From the car park, cross Maljasset towards Maurin and its church.
(1) Shortly after the church, take the road on the left towards Combe Brémond.
Cross the Combe and rejoin theGR® towards Plan Parouart.
(2) When you reach the end of the plain, leave the Chabrière ravine on your right and take the Salcette ravine.
(3). There is a small bridge at the entrance to this ravine.
- Cross the ravine to reach the Blave plain, where the Ubaye is wider.
- Follow the path indicated by the sign for "Le Longet-Rubren".
(4) A path runs parallel on the other bank, so you will need to cross the Ubaye on foot (there was no bridge/crossing when we passed through).
- Leave the Blave hut on your right.
- Shortly after the hut, the river narrows and a bridge becomes visible. At the bridge, there is a path on each side of the bank. The one on the right bank (there is a low wall nearby) corresponds tothe GR® de Paystrail leading to Lake Longet; hikers will take this path on the way back. Take the path on the left bank, which climbs up the eastern flank towards the old marble quarries.
- Continue along the path, passing the marble quarries and the Rubren hut.
(5) Once you have passed the hut, you will see two valleys: Cornascle and Rubren. Take the path that branches off to the right towards Bric de Rubren.
- Follow this path to the Mongioia Pass. There is a significant elevation gain to reach the pass (approximately 160 m).
(6) Once at the Mongioia pass, turn left towards Bric de Rubren.
(7) Leave the lake and the refuge on your right.
- Follow the trail for 5-10 minutes.
- On your left, the rock face will rise. Look for a sign saying "Facile" (easy) and a dark red arrow. You will need to climb at this point and then follow the stone markers leading to the summit. It is possible to reach the summit if you cannot find the sign. The path is more difficult (narrower and sloping to the right as you climb). I turned back after a few metres to take the path with the sign.
- Take the same route back down. Pay close attention to the stone markers so you don't miss the junction of the two paths.
A hiker we met at the summit came back down with us and also found the other path less easy.
(6) Once back at the Mongioia Pass, hikers have two options:
-> either take the same route back (the hike will be about 25 km),
-> or head towards the Franco Boerio refuge and Lake Mongioia.
- Cross the plateau, keeping the Bric and the lake on your left, and head towards the Salsa Pass and Mount Salsa.
- The path is not very visible or well marked.
- Take the scree slope (approx. 70 m elevation gain). There are snowfields on the climb.
(8) Once at the pass, take the path that descends slightly to your left. (Chamois encountered at this location)
- Follow the cairns downhill.
- When you reach the first small plateau, leave a small peak and a small lake on your right. At this point, you should have the Bric de Rubren in front of you.
- Descend following the stone markers to the scree slope overlooking Lac du Loup.
In this scree, the path is no longer visible. Head towards the left side of the lake.
(9) At the lake's exit, turn left and follow the cairns that reappear.
- The stone markings disappear again, but the grassy area does not present any particular difficulties. Hikers can follow the tracks left by flocks of sheep. TheGR® de Pays trail from Lac de Longet is visible. Hikers simply need to keep it in sight.
- An aeroplane wreck will be visible from the heights.
- TheGRP® trail rejoins shortly after the aeroplane, crossing the Ubaye.
(10) On the left, theGRP® will take hikers back to their starting point (S/E).