Park in the Cabane de l'Avalanche car park (1532m).
(S/E) From the car park, take a wide track (heading east) to quickly reach a crossroads.
(1) Leave the path that descends to the left (north-east) and continue on the main track that follows the GRP®. You will reach another intersection.
(2) Ignore the track that climbs to the right (south-west) towards the Chalet du Vallon d'Âne and continue straight on along the mainGRP® track. This track becomes a path at the Jas de Barges sheepfold (1677m). It then heads south-east and joins a trail in the Vallon des Bruyères.
(3) Continue opposite on theGRP® along the Souloise to reach the Col de Rabou (1,888 m).
(4) At the Col de Rabou, leave the marked route to climb the Crête de la Plane heading west. At the start, take the track that leads to the antennas, then turn left and climb the steep slope. Pass by the antennas, then walk along the ridge and join a crossroads shortly after the 2100m mark.
(5) Continue straight ahead to the highest point, reached at an altitude of 2340m: this is the end of the climb. From this point, there is a superb view of the Pic de Bure.
Throughout the climb up the ridge, there is a superb view of Le Dévoluy and the vertiginous slope down to the bottom of the Petit Buëch valley. No difficulty in good weather.
(6) Begin the return journey by following the ridge again to an altitude of 2,100 metres. Be careful not to leave the ridge and descend too quickly towards the north as there are significant cliffs.
(5) Leave the ascent route that follows the ridge and head first north-east, then, 100m lower down, due north, following the Barges cliff as your guide. There is no path, but the vegetation is low and progress is easy.
At an altitude of 1,800 metres, continue in the same direction (north), aiming for the sheepfold. Follow this direction and cross the uphill path just before the sheepfold.
(3) Turn left onto the route you took on the way up and follow the markedGRP® trail to the Cabane de l'Avalanche car park (S/E).
) with magnificent landscapes and views of the Pic de Bure, Le Devoluy, Le Champsaur...
! That said, we were warned about this kind of encounter from the start, I just thought I would have enough visibility to bypass any herds from a long way off!