A lovely hike to Som via La Cochette and back via the Arête de Bérard

Park in the car park situated 300 m from the Pont de Valombre on the road leading from Saint-Laurent-du-Pont to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, either before or after the Porte de l’Enclos, depending on the direction from which you are approaching. Access to the forest road is then restricted to authorised users.

(S/E) Head due west along this forest track, which winds its way through woodland and meadows, for a pleasant warm-up.

(1) As you go, enjoy a lovely view of the Grande Chartreuse Monastery and La Corerie, then carry on.

(2) Pass the Habert de Malamille – a beautiful old building – on your right, and carry on along the forest track that branches off to the left. You’ll reach a timber yard (wood storage area) a little further up.

(3) Leave the forest track on your left and head straight ahead to rejoin the path leading towards the Col de la Cochette. The path climbs quite steeply and runs alongside the Combe de l’If on your right, reaching the pass via the final hairpin bends along some attractive stone retaining walls.

(4) Head down the west-facing slope of the pass: watch out for slippery patches and falling rocks for about a hundred metres. Then turn left (south) to climb back up the western slope via the Chemin de la Cochette. After a long traverse due south, rejoin the path that climbs up from the Col de la Charmette.

(5) Follow it, veering left along the stream. At the water intake, continue along this lovely path heading east, then north, which leads to the edge of the Pré Bâtard mountain pasture.

:6:: Begin the traverse across the mountain pasture.

(7) Leave the path and head towards the north-south ridge on your right as you climb: aim for the northern part of the wooded area. In any case, there is a path running along this ridge and you must join it.

(8) Reaching the ridge offers a magnificent view of the mountain ranges: Belledonne, Oisans, Mont Blanc, etc. Follow this path, which appears and disappears at regular intervals, staying on the western side of the ridge.

(9) At the end of the ridge, join the steeper path coming from the west and follow it to reach the summit via a narrow, somewhat exposed path that requires you to use your hands once or twice.

(10) Once at the summit, begin the descent via the main southern path.

(11) At the paragliding take-off point, head down the path cutting due south to join the^GR® du Tour de Chartreuse. Follow this^GR® to the left (north-east).

(12) Pass beneath the eastern rock slab of Le Charmant Som and continue on to Le Small Pass.

(13) Turn left to cross over onto the north-western slope and descend for a few dozen metres. Very soon, turn right at the fork beneath the Arête du Bérard. The section ahead may be dangerous as it is exposed to rockfalls: therefore, avoid periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms or strong winds. Descend along this ridge to reach its end and begin the final section via a series of lovely switchbacks that will lead you back to the forest road where you started. Turn right to reach the car park about a hundred metres further on (S/E).

Avoid in wet or very windy weather, as some sections are exposed to rockfalls (4) and along the Arête de Bérard on the return journey.

An alternative route to avoid this long ridge on the return journey is to descend directly to the bottom of the valley from the small pass and head for Habert de Valombré via the path you took on the way up (2).

I recommend doing this hike in this direction to avoid the long stretch along the forest track on the return journey.