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The hike starts from the Merlette car park at an altitude of 1,793 metres (1,870 metres on the IGN map) near the technical maintenance facilities for the slopes.
(S/E) Follow the path that passes by the hamlet of Forest des Estaris and turn left after the fountain (drinking water).
(1) At the fountain, continue along the main path for about 200 metres and take the track on the right (you will pass mountain bikers and sometimes chairlift maintenance vehicles). This is a wide, stony track which you follow towards the Joubert chalet.
(2) Before the bridge over the stream, look for the small path on the right that leads to the Estaris rock, which you will take on the way back. 150 m after the bridge, turn left onto a small, steep, stony path to the Jujal lakes, which you will leave on your right (admire the beautiful green valley through which a pretty stream winds).
(3) 150 m after the lakes, turn left. Pass by the Roche Rousse chalet (where you can buy refreshments) at the foot of the ski lifts, which you will leave on your left, and head towards Lac des Sirènes.
(4) This very pretty lake is sometimes busy because, even in summer, you can use the chairlifts to get to the Roche Rousse chalet (which makes the climb easier!).
(5) 50 metres after the lake, take a small steep path on the left to Lac Long. The climb is steep, but miraculously, there are few people around the lake, which is superb and teeming with fish.
(6) Pass to the right of the lake, following the small path that leads to the edge of the deep lake. I went around them on the left, staying fairly high up and taking the grassy section to come back down 400 m further on to the main path.
(7) Take this path, turning left towards the Grand Lac des Estaris (it's quite a climb!). Leave the small chalet on your right to reach the pass, where you will have a beautiful view of the Grand Lac (it is often crowded, but it is still beautiful).
(8) You are now at an altitude of 2,580 metres. The walk can continue around the lake or towards the neighbouring passes, but I didn't go there... I preferred to have a bite to eat at the arrival point of the chairlift, which is closed in summer.
(9) To return, retrace your steps along the main path until you are about 150 metres from Lac des Sirènes.
(10) Just before Lac des Sirènes, take a path on the left that passes close to the Gouroud hut. After the hut, the path is poorly marked and quite difficult to follow, and may discourage those who are prone to vertigo.
Finish this section of the path overlooking Lake Jujal, which leads to the path you took on the way up. Descend via the familiar path to the small bridge (150 m after the Joubert chalet) and turn left onto the path you spotted on the way up to go towards the Estaris rock. Beautiful view of Orcières Merlette. Be careful, there is a bit of easy climbing over a few metres, to be done vertically on the rock. The path leads us to the hamlet of Forest des Estaris, where we descend to the car park. With a bit of luck, you will see mountain goats in the rocks on your right before the hamlet.
And that's it, the hike is over. I hope you enjoyed it. Return to the car park (S/E).
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