Col du Pansier (2251m) walks

A hike with some very steep and vertiginous sections! This hike is a variation on the one marked as PR®.

Ascent to Col Fromage through fields of flowers in July.The alternative route via the old signal station offers a 360° panoramic view and a bird’s-eye view of the valley.

This fourteenth stage completes the crossing of the Queyras Massif. From La Chalp, the GR® 5 climbs along the left bank of the Torrent de l’Izoard above Arvieux, then reaches the hamlet of Les Maisons. From there, it heads towards Lac de Roue before descending to Château-Queyras. The route climbs the steep slope on the opposite side, on the right bank of the Torrent de Bramousse, joins a road at a hairpin bend and leaves it at the next one. It continues through the torrent’s valley, reaches the ridge separating the Bramousse and Riou Vert valleys, and, hugging the hillside beneath the peaks of La Selle and Rasis, reaches the Col Fromage. The path descends along the right bank of the Ravin de Rasis to reach Le Villard before arriving at Ceillac, from where it follows the Torrent du Mélezet, alternating between the left and right banks, before reaching the Refuge de la Cime du Mélezet.

Étape du GR®5 de La Chalp à Ceillac par le Col du Fromage dans le Queyras authentique et sauvage en passant par Chateau-Queyras.

Ascent to the Furfande Refuge from Arvieux via theGR®58. Hike completed on 5 July 2018 as part of a route.

Instead of taking the ‘classic’ ascent via the forest road, opt for a route that climbs more steeply and features much more technical single-track sections – this will give you a good warm-up for the descent towards Les Granges de Furfande, then on to Le Queyron and finally back to Arvieux. I’ve only described the ascent route here. For the descent, use the Col de Furfande route guide , described by morgiou13, available at (2). Given the difficulty of the climb (steep sections and tight, steep hairpin bends), this route is best suited to e-MTBs.

This walk, starting from the Furfande refuge, will take you past the magnificent barns and chalets of Furfande and lead you along a path running along a ridge above the Queyras valley, where the River Guil winds its way through, then on to Souliers via an ascent from the hamlet of Les Moullins in the Arvieux valley.

This pleasant second day begins with a climb to the Col de Moussière before passing by the very pleasant Lac du Lauzet, then taking the long forest track back to the Moussière car park.

Access from the alpine hamlet of Moussière to the bivouac area located between the Selle and Crousas mountain pastures. This mountain pasture overlooks the Cabane Sainte-Marie, where the sheep are kept at night.

This stage follows part of theGR®® 58, then takes a route offthe GR®® to climb to the Col d’Izoard. Admittedly, this ascent is via the road, but on a day when vehicles are banned, allowing you to enjoy this lunar landscape with its monoliths. The return journey takes you through a deserted ravine. The limestone landscapes of this stage are nothing like those encountered since the start of the Tour du Queyras, which is characterised by slate.