Lodge du Grand Rochebrune – Lodge le Teppio

(S) From the Grand Rochebrune refuge, cross the top of the hamlet, heading north. Walk past the chapel and the cemetery to reach a wide forest track. Take the^GR®® along this path, which climbs gradually through a larch wood, until you reach a junction just before the Souliers sheepfold.

(1) Ignore the path leading to the Souliers sheepfold and continue to the left. After a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach the Col du Tronchet.

(2) Begin the descent and you’ll soon reach the junction of two paths. Leave the^GR®®58on your left and take the path, which runs along a ridge, leading to the junction with the Col d’Izoard road. Carry on straight along the path, leaving the^GR®® behind, which descends to the left directly towards Brunissard. Pass the path leading up to Lac de Souliers on your right. Continue until you reach the departmental road leading up to the Col d’Izoard at a car park.

(3) Turn right and walk alongside the road. Admire the scenery on the slopes of the pass, with the monoliths or ‘dames coiffées’, and the ravine to your left. Continue by cutting across the final hairpin bends to reach the Col d’Izoard. From the first hairpin bends, take the footpaths up to the summit.

(4) Continue to the orientation tables.

(5) Return to the Col d’Izoard.

(4) Begin the descent; at the^fourth hairpin bend, you’ll come to a crossroads of footpaths.

(6) Turn right here to descend into the ravine along the bed of the Izoard torrent, which is dry at this time of year. The start of the descent takes you through gravel pits. The very rocky and arid landscape is magnificent, completely different from the previous stages. Reach the junction with the path coming from the Lac Souliers car park.

(7) Continue straight on, still descending, until you reach the D902 road above the village of Brunissard.

(8) Follow the road, passing through Brunissard. Reach the end of the village at the junction of the^GR®®5and^GR®®58paths.

(9) Turn right onto the^GR®®58and climb gradually along a ridge above the hamlets. Cross the Ravin de Jalley and continue to a junction at a viewpoint.

(10) Take the path that veers sharply to the left and head down towards the hamlet of La Chalp.
Cross the stream, climb up to a car park, then continue for a few metres along the main road.

(11) Turn right onto the tarmac road to reach the Le Teppio lodge (E).

Water sources are scarce on this stage.
Binoculars and a camera are a must. Don’t forget that this 9-day route is a mountain route, which requires good physical fitness and suitable kit, even in summer. The weather changes very quickly, as do temperature fluctuations.

(2) Col Tronchet: enjoy the view of the Pic de Rochebrune, which you will have completely circumnavigated in 24 hours, as well as that of the limestone landscape featuring: the Pic de Beaudouis, the Crête de Combe la Roche, the Pic du Cros and the Pic du Béal Traversier.
Between (3) and (4), the stretch along the road isn’t exactly the most pleasant, but we made the most of the pass being closed to cars. In fact, every summer the pass is closed to cars for one morning in July and August to allow cyclists to enjoy the pass in complete peace. This section of the route allows you to stop for a few moments at the Casse Déserte memorial, erected here in memory of two heroic Tour de France cyclists: Fausto Coppi, the Italian, and Louison Bobet, the Frenchman.
(4) The Col de l’Izoard: a legendary Alpine pass on a par with the Galibier. The pass is marked by a memorial, unveiled in August 1934, paying tribute to the work of General Baron Berge and the Alpine troops responsible for building the Col de l’Izoard road.
(4) The Col de l’Izoard, situated at an altitude of 2,361 metres within the municipality of Arvieux, lies near the Pic de Rochebrune (3,308 metres) and below the Pic Ouest de Cote Belle (2,854 metres). It is one of the gateways to the valley and the Queyras Regional Nature Park, and marks the boundary between the Briançonnais and the Queyras. It gained fame through the Tour de France, amongst other things, and is part of the Route des Grandes Alpes.
(5) Viewpoints: offering views of the northern slope and the Briançonnais region:
- in the distance, the Thabor,
- below, the road to the Napoléon refuge.
(E) Gîte le Teppio: an excellent stopover lodge, with magnificent spots for camping. The food served there is very generous and of high quality.