La Grande Moucherolle via the Fenêtre ridge and the east ridge

By car: from Villard de Lans, take the D512 towards Corrençon-en-Vercors. At the roundabout at the south exit, follow the D215b left towards Les Glovettes. As you approach the Balcon de Villard ski resort, leave the road on the right towards Les Pouteils. After the right-hand bend, leave the D215b and take the next road to reach a quiet car park below the Balcon de Villard cable car station.

(S/E) Continue south on the road from the car park, cross the private car park and continue along a path downhill (south-west) into the woods. When you reach a path marked^GR®®91, follow it uphill to the left until you reach the sign (La Cote 1163).

(1) Leave the^GR®® and turn left onto an ascending path marked yellow/green towards Lauzet and Bernay (south). Leave the side paths and, after the Bernay sign, arrive at an esplanade (altitude 1271) where there is a crossroads marked with a sign (Les Marmottons, altitude 1278 m).

(2) Leave the yellow/green marked path opposite and the path descending to the left. Take the unmarked path on the right which, after two bends, climbs gently (south-west). About 500 m further on, it is marked yellow/green and, shortly after, crosses a sign (La Salamandre, altitude 1,415 m).

(3) Continue straight ahead towards Grand Buisson. At the Grand Buisson chairlift station, ignore the path opposite. Turn left onto the Salamandre ski slope, pass under the chairlift to reach a crossroads with a sign (Carrefour de l'Ours, altitude 1,520 m).

(4) Leave the Salamandre ski slope, passing to the left of the Crêtes chairlift station. Climb the Perdrix Blanche ski slope on the right towards Source Bressant. Pass under a footbridge and, about a hundred metres further on, at an altitude of 1600 m, cross the Grand Buisson chairlift. Do not take the slope opposite, but turn left to pass under the chairlift again. Join the Perdrix Blanche ski slope, which leads to the Téléski de l'Ourson station (altitude 1,720 m).

(5) Ignore the track on the right and the one on the left towards Lac de la Moucherolle. Continue opposite, to the right of the ski lift, to join the steep Narcisse ski slope. At the top, at the crossroads, there is a sign (La Source Bressant). With your back to the sign, look towards the bow of the Grande Moucherolle. Leave the Narcisse ski slope continuing to the right. Take the path on the left towards the lake for about thirty metres. Note on the right two metal plates sealed to the rock face, a long blue line and a spring at the foot.

(6) Climb up towards this wall and follow the path that runs along it on the right. This path, marked by a few blue lines and cairns, winds its way up a cone of scree. It gradually turns towards the left flank (northeast) of the Grande Moucherolle towards some trees. Walk along the foot of a rocky step and look up to see two metal bars with a small cable hanging from them.

(7) Follow the direction of the cable, keeping to the left where the steps are a little unstable. At the top of this escarpment, the cable ends, attached to a large rock. Pass to the left of it to approach the cliff. Avoid the rocky outcrop on the left that forms a small pass with the wall, then follow the latter. A little further on, it forms a rock shelter and then, after a more exposed section, joins a superb arch whose opening overlooks the opposite slope. Known as La Fenêtre, it is approximately 10 m long and 3 m high and is well worth the climb.
Shortly afterwards, on the same slope (north-east), find another small cable fixed to the wall in an exposed passage. Climb up the ridge, which becomes grassy, to reach a metal platform and an avalanche trigger with a large gas tank.

(8) Pass the Gazex and climb two switchbacks to rejoin the ridge, which becomes wider. Follow it, aiming for a dried-up bush and, in the distance, a large cairn still to the south-east. Pass a few rocky steps to reach the bush, then a flat section and the large cairn indicating the descent to the Col des Moucherolles. Ignore this descent and climb up a gently sloping meadow, popular with ibexes for its tranquillity. Reach its highest point and a marker.

(9) Follow the path to the left (east) which passes over a rocky ridge wide enough to stand on. It is possible to avoid these passages on the ridge by taking a path below. At the summit, marked by a large cairn, enjoy a magnificent and vertiginous 360° view.
At the end of the ridge marked by a cairn, descend a chimney slightly to the left. It is best to descend with your back to the slope so you can see where to place your feet. When you reach a step, do not join the earthy switchbacks on the left, but approach the cliff on the right south to find a path leading to another chimney. Below, the slope becomes less steep, but remain vigilant on the stony and slippery path.

(10) It continues along a grassy path to the Col des Deux Sœurs.

(11) At the pass, turn left onto a path towards Lac de la Moucherolle. After about 100 m, you will reach a junction marked by a cairn (altitude 2,040 m).

(12) At this intersection, ignore the path descending opposite towards Lac de la Moucherolle, then the ski slopes. Head right (north) onto a path marked by cairns. It climbs slightly for about 200 m before reaching a fork (altitude 2,045 m).

(13) Leave the path descending to the left. Follow the one on the right for about 500 m (north). At first almost level, it bends to meet a fork (altitude 2000 m).

(14) Do not take the path that descends straight ahead (north). Take the path on the right (north-northeast) which climbs gently up the grassy slope of the Dôme de l'Œil to an altitude of 2030 m, then descends sharply to the right (east) and joins the Pas de l'Œille path.

(15) Leave the Pas de l'Œille 200 m to your right. This does not prevent you from taking a quick look back at the beautiful Aiguilles Sultanes a few dozen metres below the pass on the eastern slope. In local dialect, œille means needle. Turn left onto a marked trail. At first grassy and almost level, it soon descends, winding through scree to join a path in a combe (altitude 1,800 m).

(16) Ignore the left fork that joins the ski slopes. Follow the path climbing gently to the right (north) and descend along the foot of the Arêtes du Gerbier to reach a signpost (altitude 1658 m).

(17) Leave the Péronard trail opposite towards the Col Vert. Take the trail descending to the left towards the Combe Charbonnière (north-west). After a few switchbacks in the scree, continue through the forest to reach a signpost.

(18) Leave the trail on the left towards Lac du Pré. Continue straight ahead across the meadow and arrive at a path leading to Bergerie de la Fauge on the right. Descend on the left to a signpost (elevation 1310).

(19) Leave the path that continues opposite. Take the path on the left that climbs towards the Collet des Clots. Pass the small pass (altitude 1340 m) and join a sign on a wide track (altitude 1336). Follow it to the right and, after about 400 m, you will come to a signpost at a crossroads.

(20) Do not take the track straight ahead towards Les Clots. Turn left onto a path marked^GR®®91towards Les Glovettes. At the roundabout with the car park, continue along the road opposite (west) overlooking the resort. At the hairpin bend, leave the road and continue straight ahead on the^GR®®91. You will come to a junction. Turn left to join the D512b road.

(21) Leave the^GR®®91and continue straight ahead along the road (east). Leave it after the first right-hand bend and follow the road on the right towards the car park (S/E).

Route description
From (S) to (1) Not marked.
From (1) to (2) Signs and conventional markings.
From (2) to (3) No markings but the route is obvious.
From (3) to (6) Signs and conventional markings.
From (6) to (7) Blue lines and cairns.
From (7) to (11) The crossing of the north-west ridge is unmarked but the well-defined route is punctuated by a few cairns. The start of the ridge is marked by iron bars and a thin cable providing orientation. Another cable follows after the window.
The descent from the east ridge is roughly close to the steep south face on a good, unmarked trail.
From (11) to (12) Sign and conventional markings.
From (12) to (15) No painted markings but a few cairns.
From (15) to (21) Signs and conventional markings.
From (21) to (E) Not marked but obvious.

Please note that although this route is not particularly technical, it is physically demanding and very exposed. It is not suitable for people who are prone to vertigo or who do not have experience of aerial crossings and climbing steps. Avoid at all costs in wet weather due to the risk of slipping. The steep descent from the east ridge over gravel and small rolling stones requires extra caution.
IBP = 131 (physically very difficult for average hikers).