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After Orange, leave your car at the Chesnet car park
(S/E). Leave the car park and take the path on the right, then turn right again onto the marked path indicating Chalet de Balme via the Promontoire in 1 hour 40 minutes. The forest is peaceful and the path becomes steeper as you reach the promontory at 1,550 metres.
(1) There is a beautiful view of the Chalet de Balme below on the right and the Col du Câble in the distance slightly to the left. Follow the markings and continue towards the Col de Cou. The path is more or less level in the mountain pastures (we descended a little to stay in the forest and then climbed up the stream known as the Nant de Cou to reach the pass. It was very wet, so we would have been better off staying in the mountain pastures!
(2) At the Col de Cou, you can make a round trip to the Pointe de Sur Cou, where there is an orientation table identifying the peaks from the Barre des Écrins to the Swiss and Chablais peaks via the Mont Blanc range. Otherwise,head south down the meadow, then cross a small, soggy wood and head south-east towards the Col du Freu, which is clearly visible, with a beautiful limestone ridge on the right. There are 4-5 small patches of snow left. It rained the day before yesterday and it's a bit slippery, but our semi-rigid shoes do the trick, with the help of our poles and by staying alert.
(3) Pass Col du Freu and go around Roche Parnal to the south to Col du Câble via a level path in 20 minutes, and have a picnic with the 40 ibexes on duty on the sharp limestone pavement.
(4) At the end of May, the descent still has one or two patches of snow at the start, and you'll tackle the cliff crossing with muddy shoes.
(5) This section is wired, with spikes for your feet. Climbing experience is very useful, otherwise it is best to use a via ferrata lanyard before tackling these few exposed metres. It is this section, done without a lanyard, and the descent, as well as the few patches of snow still present, that justify the "Very difficult" rating for an average hiker.
Then, descend gently towards the Chalet de Balme, which is clearly visible below.
(6) There are a lot of people out and about on this Ascension Thursday, so we continue on our way.
(7) Crossing the Flan. To reach the Chesnet car park, take the westbound track on your left after the chalet. This route is a little longer but has a gentler slope. Arrival at the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
Easy 
