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(S) From the start at Lac Labarre, you are in the Écrins National Park. See practical information.
Join the GR®54B (white and red markings), take the path to the left of the lake towards the Col de la Romeïou.
From the pass, continue straight on along a descending balcony path and join the crossroads, 250 m from the Cabane de la Selle.
(1) At the crossroads, leave the GR®54B and take the PR® on the left towards the Cabane de la Selle.
Just before the hut, turn right to reach the Col de Paletas.
(2) Leave the PR® and take a faint, unmarked path on the right of the ridge. Look for a large cairn to find the path (see photo). Climb up the ridges (heading north-east), then go around the rocky outcrop on the left (see photo).
(3) At this point, on a grassy plateau (see photo), stop following the ridges and change course slightly (north).
Go around the summit, staying on the western flank, on the left.
Look for the path that crosses the mountainside, which is not exposed (see photo).
Thepath gradually becomes sandy and stony until you reach the Creux des Chardons valley.
(4) At Creux de la Vallée ( see photo), the path disappears. Climb up the grassy strip (north) to the scree.
Atthe scree, the path changes direction (north-west). Find the path where a few large rocks can show you the way ( see photo).
(5) Once you have crossed the scree, locate the black rocky outcrop and climb up its right-hand side along a wide grassy and stony strip (see photo). Then bear left, through a passage between the rocks (see photo), and follow the winding path to reach the summit with a visible cairn.
(6) At the cairn, change direction (north-east) and climb up the left side of the various ridges to reach the summit of Neyrard. There are two summits on the ridges to climb: the altitude IGN 2770 (see photo) and the altitude Neyrard 2796 (see photo).
Please note: this section, from (7) to (E), is off-trail: it takes between 45 and 60 minutes and is not particularly difficult, but good orientation skills are required.
(7) At the summit, where there is a cairn, leave the path (heading north-west) to reach the Col du Neyrard on the left, which is lower down. To do this, follow the wide ridge (see photo).
(8) From the pass, continue in the same direction as the ridges (north-west), at the foot of the rocky outcrop, and go around it on the left.
To go around it, descend a few steps to the left, staying on its rocky flank (see photo).
A few metres further on, on the ridge, another rocky outcrop rises up (see photo). Go around this one on the left as well.
This time, descend to the very bottom, at its foot, then gently climb back up the ridge (see photo).
(9) On the wide ridge, climb over a few rocks to reach its highest point (see photo). Then continue for about 250 m along the wide ridge with cairns until you find a passage in the Berche Noire.
(10) At Berche Noire, on your right (north) is a passageway leading down to the lake. Take this passageway (see photo).
Carefully descend the corridor (loose ground) on the left, then a few metres after climbing down the rocks on the left (less steep terrain).
Continue straight down and then find an easier passage between the rocks on the left (see photo).
Then walk along the left side (for 50 m) of the cliff, using the rocks to help you descend (see photo).
Reach the scree slope (north) towards the lake below by descending on loose ground.
(11) When you reach a scree slope with larger rocks, keep going in the same direction (north) (see photo).
Once you are close enough to the lake (see photo), turn left (west) and walk along a rocky outcrop.
Reach the end of Lac du Vallon, towards its outlet (E).
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