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Take the D280 between Theys and Saint-Pierre d'Allevard and go via the Col du Barioz (1041m). At the pass, take the road to the Barioz ski centre (green sign) on the right coming from Theys and continue to the end of the D281b road.
Park just before the foyer building, in front of the foyer or opposite the foyer, depending on availability.
(S/E) Leave the car park heading south-southwest on the track that extends the road, to the left of the centre, and continue for about 200 m until you reach the next sign.
(1) Turn left towards the south (sign) onto a path that climbs straight up the slope, cuts across the old zigzag track, follows it for a short distance and runs slightly below it on the right before rejoining it. The track leads to an open area occupied by the Chalet Pierre Roubet (slightly to the right) and a cross on a hillock (to the left).
(2) Continue straight ahead on the path up the slope heading north-northeast. A little further on, the path leads to the beautiful track that serves the Crêt du Poulet lodge. Continue north-northeast on this path, which cuts across the switchbacks of the track and eventually joins it for the last few metres. You will arrive at a small plateau occupied by an old lake in an advanced state of eutrophication. Go around it on the left and you will arrive at the Crêt du Poulet refuge, which can be seen at the bottom left of the plateau.
(3) At the refuge terrace, turn left (sign) onto the path that climbs up to Crêt du Poulet itself and join the two orientation tables, the first facing the Chartreuse, and the second a little further on facing the Allevard massif.
(4) Return to the refuge via the same route.
(3) Continue straight ahead to cross the mountain pasture heading south. The path then turns right towards the south-southwest. Follow this path, which runs slightly below the ridge line, to its highest point, the Grand Rocher. The route passes several small lakes that are more or less dry and more or less filled in. Reach the summit of Grand Rocher (cross) and admire the view of the Allevard and Sept Laux massifs.
(5) Continue down the trail. The trail follows the ridge line a little more closely, even passing slightly below it on its eastern flank. You will reach the Col du Merdaret.
(6) Take the track that descends towards the two chalets of Merdaret and follow it to the next crossroads marked by a sign.
(7) Leave the track and take the path on the right (towards "Bois Vert") which, a little further on, passes behind a chalet and heads north. After a final short descent, you will reach a crossroads.
(8) Be careful here, as the main path becomes level and widens slightly. Look for a path starting on the left with the first few metres quite steeply downhill (no sign or markings). If you take the wrong path, the main path leads a few metres further on to a large area at the end of the track used for storing logs and turning trucks around. Turn around to find the trail (now on the right). Follow this new, clearly visible trail through the undergrowth. Cross a track (sign) and rejoin it a little further down.
(9) Follow it to the right until you reach the large four-way crossroads.
(10) Take the path that climbs slightly to the right. The track is wide and the slope, although gentle, is continuous until you reach the crossroads you passed on the way out.
(1) Continue straight ahead to the car park of the Barioz cross-country ski centre (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
