Le Grand Sorbier

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hi
I give a 4 for description and itinerary.
I agree with another comment that said to indicate directions using cardinal points in the descriptions, in addition to talking about left bank, right bank, or "turn left," etc. I agree with that argument.
Although, mind you, I agree that we're supposed to know what the left and right banks are (especially when we're in the real mountains, of course). But cardinal points never fail you, let me explain.

When you're tired, you can get confused, even with 25 years of hiking experience.
When I reread point 5 at the bottom of the lock, it confused me;
"(5) (...) continue through the boulders to the right on the left bank of the valley, then through a finer scree slope that passes under the Aiguille du Mottin."
Then,
(6) A large cairn marks the start of the summer couloir on the left."

I admit that I stupidly mixed the two up when I reread it too quickly, which made me hesitate, and I didn't take out my paper map... So I just went left, to the left of the ridge (in the valley). Because from below, you can clearly see two couloirs, one to the right (south) and one to the left (north) of the small ridge.
Don't do it! It's very steep and unstable, almost less dangerous to climb the lock directly XD

Maybe add a clarification to the text (if a moderator is reading this, since the user who created this hike has been deleted) on point 5, like a 5bis ^^ to clearly indicate the passage "at the bottom of the combe, go south, between the lock and the north face of the Grand Van".
Well, without the fatigue of the week, I probably wouldn't have messed up XD

For the descent, I chose the alternative route of heading towards the other couloir, descending further west via the ridge. Because I like doing circular routes. Also well marked by a beautiful, clearly visible cairn.
This alternative may be useful for those who had difficulty climbing the last couloir and are apprehensive about the descent, as it is more "relaxed". But be careful > orientation (fewer cairns than in the combe, so be very careful in case of fog)*.

Otherwise, the route is fine, although the descent via the Pourettes puddle is obviously very slippery at this time of year, which is normal for a north-facing slope. All the better, as there's not a soul in sight until you reach the puddle, then you return via a fairly quiet path to end up back in civilisation ^^

Delighted with this hike, plus absolutely no one between the Robert and Grand Sorbier lakes. Alone in the world with the chamois and marmots and rocks (yes, I love rocks!).
What an atmosphere in this combe, magnificent. Amazing boulders everywhere, imposing faces on either side...! What a thrill.
And what a view, yum!
Thanks to the author for sharing it.

As for the difficulty, I agree with "very difficult", it prevents amateurs from attempting it. Even if it's always the same, it's quite subjective. Personally, I think the difficulty levels on this site need to be revised, but that would probably require a huge amount of work for the developers, haha.

Cheers

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Date of your route : Oct 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The trail was very steep from Roberts Lakes, so I decided to branch off towards the vans, following a ravine. There were numerous rockfalls, and unfortunately, when I reached 10 metres from the summit, the ravine had partially collapsed, with rocks missing, leaving me facing a 2.5-metre wall of rotten rock, so I turned back.
The difficulty lies in avoiding triggering a rockfall in the ravine and walking on unstable scree on the summit.

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, well marked and very reliable, with cairns dotted all along the path.

We completed a circular hike in six hours, unfortunately in light rain...

Otherwise, on a beautiful, sunny day, it must be just as beautiful.

The Robert Lakes were overrun with campers.

Unfortunately, Lac des Pourettes is quite dry, so there isn't much to see.

On the other hand, at the summit there is a superb view of the Grand Colon, which is very close by.

To be repeated on a better day...

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Partially completed on 8 August, the route to Roberts Lakes via the southern pass is fairly straightforward, as it follows the GR trail. However, we were not inspired by the start of the climb up the scree slopes of Grand Sorbier and preferred to climb via Les Vans, the neighbouring peak, where the path is much more visible and well-trodden (with at least one sign at the pass, at the start of the climb up Les Vans). At the summit, we heard the sound of scree made by animals on the Grand Sorbier path, where the trail passes. According to a guide we met on the climb up Les Vans, the hike is not recommended in summer, as "you can't be sure of arriving in one piece". The Les Vans path seems safer.

As for the return trip, we were alone on the route marked "north breach" in the description. In fact, this path is no longer maintained. The return via the official north breach is higher up in relation to the lake (still on the north side), and in no case starting from the south breach as indicated in the hike. The route is a little perilous and would probably have been easier going uphill than downhill. The green markings have almost all been erased, until you reach Lac des Pourettes where, fortunately, the path resumes via a marked trail (looking back, you can see a magnificent green cross where we came from). The rest of the route is easier.

In short, we are a little disappointed with this route.

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Date of your route : Jan 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Completed less than a week ago, with well-frozen snow. Crampons and ice axe, amazing view above the clouds. 6:30 a.m., physically demanding on the plateau without snowshoes... Happy New Year to all.

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Date of your route : Aug 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent summit! The hike is easy to follow, with cairns everywhere along the way once you leave the trail.
To improve the description, systematic use of cardinal points (in addition to left/right) would be ideal.
Thank you for this superb hike!

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Date of your route : Sep 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great hike
there are cairns all along the way!

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