The Curé passage

At the Meraillet pass, take the route towards Beaufort and after 500 m, take the tarmacked path to the right which leads to Lake Gittaz. The route follows the gorge up to the Gittaz dam (1560 m). Continue along the bank up to just before the northern bend of the lake.

(1) Here you will find a path which climbs up to a small pass (alt. around 1650 m) where you will see a dirt path heading northwards. Follow this path (staying more or less at the same altitude) along the Gittaz river, which the path overlooks by a good hundred metres or so.

(2) Continue up to the point where you could take the bridge leading to the hamlet of Gittaz. However, don't take this path. Instead, leave towards the right by climbing the left-hand slope of the Gittaz river (from then on, always keep the river on your left), which becomes a gushing torrent, hemmed in on both sides.

(3) On arriving at the top, turn towards the right along this gorge. Here, you will discover a stone path carved into the rock which enables you to pass along the cliffs. This is the Curé passage and it is superb!
Continue along the left bank of the Gittaz torrent up to where you can wade through it at the ford or over névé (melted and then re-frozen snow). You'll get your shoes wet, that's for sure!

(4) Continue along the path alongside the torrent up to the point where two tributaries join it and where you can see Sauce chalet (you're about 1980 m high here).
Take the right towards the north climbing steeply, the path climbs in zigzags up to the ledge situated at 2230 m and the Chalet des Cavets.

(5) Just a little bit more effort gets you to the Bonhomme pass (6) where you join the Tour de Mont Blanc path, which brings you back via the white and red markers to the Gorge of Notre Dame.