The Chardonnet and Aiguillette Passes Route

Park in one of the car parks at Pont de l’Alpe; for this walk, use the large car park on the left-hand side of the road as you come from Briançon.
(S/E) Walk up the road to the bridge and immediately turn right onto the wide track that runs along the left bank of the stream.
Cut across the bend in the track by taking the well-marked path which rejoins the wide track further up.
Stay on this track until you reach the chalets at Alpe du Lauzet.

(1) Then, as you leave the chalets, take the path (signposted ‘Grand Lac’).
Reach the Clot des Vaches after a steep climb.

(2) Turn right onto the^GR®57and stay on it, following the^GR® markings (red and white) to the Col du Chardonnet Sud.

(3) Then turn right onto the correct path (cairn) which climbs to a small, unnamed peak (altitude 2,713 m). Begin the descent towards the Col de l’Aiguillette, which remains visible.

(4) Turn onto the path which, running close to the cliff, leads to the plateau at the foot of the Croix de l’Aiguillette.

(5) Begin the descent along the well-defined but unmarked path to reach the Chemin du Roy.

(6) Turn right onto it and, after 100 metres, turn left onto the path which winds its way through the mountain pastures several times before finally rejoining the track you took on the way up, then the Pont de l’Alpe and the car park (S/E).

No water along the route except at the start (a fountain behind the fire hydrant).
There are a few shelters at the Col du Chardonnet, but they are very basic – they are bivouac-style shelters (a small stone wall no more than 50 cm high).
There are plenty of animals in this area today, for example:
- around thirty chamois were practising mountaineering on the Aiguillette ridges, and the whole family was there: the mums, the young ones, the yearlings,
- about ten ibex were lounging on the banks of the Aiguillette; from a distance, only their horns were visible, but what horns they were,
- a dozen vultures were waiting for a carcass,
- a flock of sheep was penned in,
- two Patou dogs were barking at the walkers passing close to the park.
Dozens of walkers were out and about.

La Grave and the Meije cable car.
The Col du Galibier and the monument dedicated to Henri Desgranges, founder of the Tour de France cycle race.
The Col du Lautaret and the Alpine Garden.