The Vercors Barrier via the Pas Ernadant and Morta

By car: from Saint-Andéol, drive past the town hall, then the hairpin bend by the church, and continue along Chemin du Pré Clos for 500 m, ignoring the two streets on the right. Before the bend to the left, park in the car park on the left-hand side of the road.

(S/E) From the car park (alt. 1060 m), continue up the road which, just after the left-hand bend, becomes a forest track marked Yellow/Green. It makes a hairpin bend then climbs following the contour of the land and, after just under a kilometre, reaches a junction (alt. 1150 m).

(1) Ignore the track continuing straight ahead and take the one that turns left, continuing in a straight line on almost level ground (south-southeast). On this track, pass a vehicle barrier and continue for about a hundred metres to reach a bend to the right. Note a path on the right marked with a Yellow Cross or a Green Cross.

(2) Leave the forest track and take this path, marked with occasional yellow and red signs, which climbs through a sparse woodland. At an altitude of around 1,250 m, it crosses a path: follow it to the left for 50 m to reach the hairpin bend of a forest track. To the right of this bend, a path begins where there is a sign for “l’Eterpa”.

(3) Leave the track and follow the ascending path (yellow/green) towards the Champ du Playnet. It crosses a sparse woodland, then a grassy and stony area, to reach the Tour du Vercors path (alt. 1,550 m).

(4) At the junction, take the path to the right (north-north-west). It climbs through a wood then runs along a level, ledge-like path alongside a steep, rocky, eroded slope. After 600 m on this path, you’ll reach a fork. Look out for a track on the left (alt. 1580 m).

(5) Leave the Tour du Vercors path opposite, and take the track that climbs diagonally north-west, then winds its way up a steep scree slope. This track, marked with blue dots, joins the rock face, runs along its right-hand side (north) and approaches the Pas Ernadant pass.

(6) You will come to a gully of orange-coloured, earthy rock which you climb up to find blue dots and arrows a little further up. Throughout the climb, check that your handholds are secure. After a large wedged boulder, take the exposed ledge to the right (arrows). Keep your balance by staying close to the overhanging rock face. Following the blue markings, climb up rocky steps, then a diagonal gully that ends in a natural arch. Once through the arch, follow the path to the left along the side of the rock face to reach the top of the Pas Ernadant.

(7) At Pas Ernadant (alt. 1,833 m), a sign warns that it is strongly advised not to use this pass for the descent. The path, approximately 2 km long, linking this pass to Pas Morta is again marked with blue dots and arrows. It is quite rugged, going up and down, crossing sharp limestone pavement and sometimes becoming indistinct. If you lose your way in the fog, follow the ridge, checking at each gap for a large sign for the Vercors Pas Morta Park.

(8) From Pas Morta (alt. 1,889 m), take a yellow/green-marked path towards Saint-Andéol. It descends the pass, crossing from one side to the other, then after several hairpin bends followed by a straight, descending diagonal section, it joins a path.

(9) At the junction (alt. 1720 m), leave the path on the right (south) and continue straight ahead (north-east) along this long diagonal stretch for about 500 m to join another path coming from the right.

(10) At this junction, you rejoin the Vercors East Balcony trail (alt. 1630 m). Follow it to the left (north) for 400 m, towards a large scree slope where a signpost is located (alt. 1550 m).

(11) Turn sharply right towards Saint-Andéol (Yellow/Green) along a path. It descends this scree slope in a series of wide, sweeping bends that become tighter as it approaches a clearing in the woods. At the end of this clearing (alt. 1350 m), cross the woods straight down the slope to reach a forest track.

(12) Cross the track (alt. 1300 m) and continue straight ahead into the woods. The path crosses another track (alt. 1210 m).

(13) It continues straight ahead through the woods, then follows a path lined with a hedge running alongside fields, and joins the D242 road (alt. 1020 m).

(14) Turn left onto the D242. After 500 m, you’ll reach Saint-Andéol and then, following the Chemin de Pré Clos uphill, the car park (S/E).

Route location:
From (S) to (2) Standard route markings.
From (2) to (3) Scattered paint marks.
From (3) to (5) Standard signposting.
From (5) to (7) Frequent paint markings.
From (7) to (8) Scattered paint markings; in rocky areas the path is not visible.
From (8) to (14) Conventional markings.
From (14) to (E) Return via the road.

Warning: this exposed route is not suitable for those prone to vertigo or lacking experience of high-altitude traverses and climbing on loose rock where holds are unstable. However, the climbing is not technical. The difficulty of the route lies in crossing a ledge where the rock face has a smooth bulge that pushes you towards the drop-off.