Country:
District:
Park near a tourist sign at the entrance to the village of Montgellafrey when coming from the valley.
(S/E) Drive through the village and, at the end, note the renovated bread oven and the curious wooden granaries.
Take the sloping street to the right of a large building. The street quickly turns into a path and then a grassy trail, leading to Chargeux
(1) The path passes in front of a large house and leads to a track. Ignore the track on the left that joins the road and turn right again onto a grassy path.
This time, the path will lead to a road.
(2) Turn right again and continue for about 200 to 250 metres.
(3) At the end of a circular route, pay close attention so you don't miss the small path that starts on the embankment to the left of the road.
This small path faces west and is barely visible, hidden as it is by the tall grass on the embankment, which has not yet been mowed. This will take you to a much wider track.
Continue along this track until you reach an open area. End of the unmarked route (note the post with a yellow marker on the left; this will be the short alternative route for the return journey).
(4) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the track that descends to the left, and take the comfortable track that leads to the road above the hamlet of Le Mollaret.
(5) Walk up the road for 50 metres until you reach a path on the right.
(6) Take a path on the right that leads into the embankment (altitude 1350 m).
This section of the path also leads to the road a little higher up. Cross the road and continue climbing.
Once again, the path comes out onto the road near a white cross (there are many of these in the village).
(7) Cross the road and continue climbing. The path now passes close to some chalets and continues with a few tight bends before arriving at two houses, one of which is under reconstruction (June 2014). The path passes below the latter and joins a good, almost flat track.
(8) Take this path on the right and pass the buildings. Then take the path that climbs north, which becomes a trail and turns west to pass above the hamlet of Les Cohendets.
(9) Turn right and continue climbing along the sometimes wet path; the lake is not far away.
When you reach the lake at 1,680 m, go around it on the left to reach the platform overlooking it.
(10). This is the end of the road, with picnic tables, a reservoir and tap, a recent refuge, and a panoramic view of the Aiguilles d'Arves in particular.
Take the track that leaves to the right of the reservoir to reach the hamlet of Prés de la Pierre in a few minutes.
(11) Take the path that starts on the left of the embankment. The cross is signposted, but the markings become less frequent.
The path will then reach a first chalet; see photo
.
(12) The cross is visible but the path is no longer visible. Go around the chalet and head north into the praz (meadow) to reach the Chalet du Grand Pré.
(13) This chalet is apparently freely accessible and can serve as a very suitable refuge or shelter if necessary.
From the chalet, head east along the path. You will soon reach a sign indicating that the cross is ten minutes away.
(14) After passing the foot of the cross (limited space), take the same route back until you reach the optional alternative mentioned above:
(4) Turn right to continue the return journey to the car park.
Note: on Visorando, the cross is marked as such with an altitude of 1931 m, while on my 2003 edition IGN map it is marked as a calvary, also at an altitude of 1931 m.
On site, the recently constructed metal cross is listed at 1,896 m.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
