Le Boreon - Refuge de Nice

(S) Set off from the Le Boréon lodge by taking the small tarmac road above the lodge.

(1) At the end of this road, take the path that climbs into the woods on the right. Follow the^GR® markings^. Pass a private refuge called Saladin. Continue on the^GR®, leaving a path on your left. Cross over the Boréon stream.

(2) At a wide track, take the path on the left which climbs steeply into the woods. Then follow the Boréon stream. The gradient on this section of^{the GR®} is less steep; the path is strewn with large boulders, sometimes through the undergrowth, sometimes through clearings. On the left, note a beautiful waterfall. Cross the Peïrastrèche bridge to reach the large clearing of Giais Peïrastrèche.

(3) Continue to the right, crossing the bridge over the Boréon. Begin the ascent to the Pas des Ladres. After a flat section, continue along Lake Trécolpas, where we’ll stop for a break. Resume the^GR® to the Pas des Ladres. The climb to the pass is very steep, but the views of the lake and the valley are magnificent. Reach the Pas des Ladres, at an altitude of 2,452m.

(4) Take the^GR®52variant on the left to reach the Col de Fenestre, marking the French-Italian border. There are numerous blockhouses here.

(5) Begin the difficult descent towards the lake. Pass by more blockhouses.

::6: Arrive at the lake. Continue the descent to the Source de Magnin at the junction with^{the GR®52}. Keep heading south on the^GR® to reach the Madone de Fenestre.

(7) Head towards the Vacherie de la Madone.

(8) Cross the torrent and begin the long and very difficult ascent of the Pas du Colomb on the red and white marked^GR®52trail. Cross the scree slopes, which are at times almost like climbing. During the second part of this ascent, progress is extremely difficult, as the gradient increases significantly (this is the dotted section on the IGN map).
Important note: Some snowfields were still present in August.
Emerge at the Pas du Mont Colomb at an altitude of 2,548m.

(9) Begin the descent towards the Refuge de Nice.
Caution: the descent is very technical over scree, where it is sometimes difficult to see the red and white markings.
Shortly before the southern tip of Lac de la Fous, reach the junction with the path coming from Vallon Autier.

(10) Turn left towards Lac de la Fous and its dam. Follow the left bank to reach the Refuge de Nice, also known as Victor de Cessole (E).

An extremely difficult stage due to the elevation gain (2,400m according to GPS) and its technical difficulty.
You can avoid this section or split the stage in two at the Madone de Fenestre lodge.
There are a few rivers where you can top up your water supplies, and the same applies at the Madone de Fenestre lodge.