Pass and summit of Roche Plane

Route partially marked in yellow.

(S/E) From the small car park in the hamlet of Les Maisonnettes, located at the end of the tarmac road, head left towards Lac du Clou, following the road and then the track (closed to non-residents) that follows it. After a large hairpin bend, take the first marked path on the left, cutting across three bends in the track and passing close to a reservoir. The climb is quite steep.

(1) Reach a three-way junction and the end of the track. Follow the marked path to the left, leading to the Reposoir chalets. Stay on this marked path, ignoring the various tracks that cross it. Further up, reach the Châtelard chalets. Cross this small hamlet and continue the climb, staying firmly on the marked path until you reach the Crozats chalet.

(2) Cross the track and continue along the marked path straight ahead, heading west, to reach the Plan Villard forest track.

(3) Cross this track and continue along the marked path straight ahead. Further up, you’ll reach a flat area near the Chalet du Clou and a lake. Walk alongside the lake and past it.

(4) At the first fork, do not head towards Lac du Clou (reserved for the return journey), but take the marked path on the left, leading to Lac Couvert (pond). Walk along this lake and continue west-south-west.

(5) Shortly after the lake, at a fork, continue straight ahead on the marked path. The summit of Roche Plane rises up before us. The Col de Roche Plane is to the left of it.

(6) After a short S-bend, near some ruins, leave the marked path and follow a track to the right, the start of which is marked by a cairn. Stay on this track, heading due west; it is more or less well-defined and passes through rhododendrons and various shrubs, heading towards the pass, which is clearly visible and easy to spot.

(7) Reach the Col de Roche Plane. Follow the ridge to the right (north-east) to reach the summit of Roche Plane, after a short, easy section over rocks.

(8) Descend via the same route taken on the ascent.

(4) Continue straight ahead to Lac du Clou

(9). Return to the junction from the outward journey.

(4) Turn left to rejoin the route you took on the way up to the Maisonnettes car park (S/E).

Do not attempt in foggy conditions.
Wear suitable footwear. Be able to navigate (by sight) on the unmarked section along the ridge.
It is possible to do a circular route: from the small saddle (5), a very steep path on the upper section follows the north-east ridge to the summit of Roche Plane: this is only for ‘experienced mountaineers’!

This description applies to periods without snow (ski touring is a completely different matter).

Various small lakes, partly filled in by erosion and aquatic plants

Beaufort and its beautiful church.
The cooperative dairy where the famous and delicious cheese of the same name is made.

La Pierra Menta is a legendary peak for hiking and ski touring in the Beaufortain massif. The name derives directly from the Franco-Provençal ‘Perrâ mentâ’, meaning ‘stone on the mountain’.
It consists of a huge monolithic spur (approximately 120m of vertical rock face) at the summit of a rocky ridge.

Legend
The giant Gargantua sent a section of the Aravis massif, which he had stumbled upon, flying with a furious kick; it landed right in the heart of the Beaufortain, thus opening the gateway to the Aravis.