Le Pinet via the Fouda Blanc strap

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but as mentioned previously, a misstep can be costly. Be mindful of the numerous tracks that can lead you astray from the primary "path"... I would describe this hike as challenging rather than extremely difficult.

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Date of your route : Jun 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed in a group of eight experienced individuals equipped with helmets and ropes. Excellent and beautiful.
Very dry terrain. Comfortable but challenging route.
GPS points noted when recording the route with Visorando, if that helps
starting point at Pinet: x: 727220 y: 5034900
Crossroads, ascent and descent: x: 727016 y: 5033661

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Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Without a doubt the most beautiful straps in Chartreuse.
This route (and direction) is much nicer than the one described here.
The climb (cave with ladder, no easy climbing) is less monotonous than via the ladder. But above all, walking the two slings in this direction allows you to climb in majesty, as the Fouda Blanc sling is more "grandiose" than the Pinet sling. In addition, you have the Cirque de St Même, the Lances de Malissart, Chamechaude and Belledonne facing you.

A must-do, again and again.
Reminder: this route is only for people who are not afraid of heights, are well equipped (I personally recommend a helmet + 20m rope as a backup if you are going in a group), and are used to this type of "committed" outing. There is a real risk of death on the straps.

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Date of your route : Oct 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike, the only downside is that the access to the Pinet strap is not easy to find.

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Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent day, a solo hike... This isn't a hike for everyone... It's very exposed and many of the passages are dizzying, but the climbing steps are easy once you get used to them. I struggled a bit in the crevice after the cave to hoist my rucksack up on my own; there wasn't enough room for both of us.i advise solo hikers to bring a small rope. I also had trouble finding the start of the strap under the pine tree. Otherwise, the landscapes and straps are just sublime. I was blown away by the views.

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with a very steep start (28% gradient over 1.5 km), especially since we did not go via "Chez Tardy" but continued along the path at the end of the car park and then turned left at the second path that goes straight up into the forest, ending up between points 1 and 2 at the crossroads under the strap.
On the way up, the route through the scree is not easy to find, nor is the return route below the summit (just before point 6, before turning south).
I strongly recommend using GPS to avoid getting lost.
This hike is not recommended for people who are afraid of heights or don't have a steady footing, or for children, as a fall on the straps on the way back would be fatal.
Very few people were there, but it was a Friday.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike completed on 12 August 2022 in dry weather (starting around 10am). The rating is probably a little high, but I can understand why. We started right away with a steep climb in the forest, but it was perfect for cardio! There are two very short but very manageable climbing sections because there are plenty of handholds. The first one is not particularly difficult, but for the second one, it's better to take off your bags to make it easier (and pass them up once the first person has climbed up).
Most of the elevation gain (and therefore the physical part) is then behind us, and the walk to the summit is magnificent (360° panoramic views, view of Mont Blanc). The start of the descent along the ridge is gently sloping, and the views are also breathtaking. There are no particular physical difficulties, but you have to be careful not to take a wrong step as there is no room for error, and it is easy to slip on the scree. The last few kilometres of the descent through the forest are a little steeper on the knees, but there is no particular risk of slipping, at least in dry weather.
Due to the numerous contemplative breaks, it took us 7 hours. The GPS track is sometimes inaccurate (and takes shortcuts that do not exist), so it is better to locate the trails that follow it "roughly" on the map.
In summary, this was one of my most beautiful hikes to date because it was very varied throughout, fun, and rewarding.

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Date of your route : Jul 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike!
The crossing via the two straps offers sublime scenery.
i would classify it as very difficult, but no more than that.
The climb through the forest and scree slopes to the Trou de la Seigneurie is steep.
That's where all the elevation gain is!
You need a little orientation to find the blue markings, but it's manageable.
A word about the fault, which is the most delicate part where you have to pass your rucksack first and pull yourself up with your arms.
The descent from Pré Pratcel is tricky, very wet with lots of stones and rocks, which makes it slippery.
Otherwise, the tour takes 5½ hours.

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Date of your route : Jul 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This strap is really worth seeing! We have made a lighter version for people who are afraid of heights and similar to the book "Randonnées du Vertige" (Vertigo Hikes). From the car park, join the GR9 to point 8, which is less steep than the direct route! Turn left at the start of the strap, which is very easy to spot. When you reach point 3, you can descend a little to the left to see the cave with the ladder, return to 3 and climb straight up to the plateau at point 4 with the small climbing step. Then head to the summit of Le Pinet. The return journey can be made by joining the GR9 and then the Chalet de l'Alpe. The whole route is 15 km long and avoids the more impressive Le Pinet sling.

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Date of your route : Jun 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful shadows it will be for this summer, so I'm waiting for your report.

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Ibex (or rather female ibex and their kids) are common in this area, as can be seen in this photo taken fromthe album of a reconnaissance trip to link the Fouda Blanc and Sangle des Belles Ombres trails – the hike has now been approved.

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Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on Sunday morning, leaving at 7am from Les Varvats. Having set off without a GPS app, I had some doubts about which route to follow and the colour of the markings, which changed from blue to red and then back to blue.
A few tips: to leave the track, look for the blue mark on the left, then when you reach the first meadow, cross it and you will arrive in the dark, damp forest. Follow the trail that veers slightly to the right to reach the scree slope, where you will find a path that winds straight up the slope. The passage through the crack is a bit acrobatic (you have to turn around, but it's possible with a small rucksack).
Arrival on the ridge at 8:45 a.m. and it's magnificent. No difficulty in reaching the summit, but a walk through the sharp limestone pavement with eroded rocks.
For the descent, look for the two yellow and blue marks below the cross and descend slightly to the left to reach the strap. That's the end of the difficulties; the path is easy along its entire length, but the second part (the Fouda Blanc strap) is a little more exposed and prettier.
I saw a mountain goat (I think) 100 metres below the Saignerie hole and a few marmots along the way.
The descent at the end of the strap was very wet and slippery because of the rocks that jut out along the path.
Return to Les Varvats before 12 noon.
A beautiful hike with a very long but not too tiring walk on straps that follow the contour lines, with beautiful photos.
I found the Jardin à Chamechaude strap more spectacular, but the most beautiful for me is the Aulp du Seuil and its geomorphosites, which are truly spectacular.

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Date of your route : Oct 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I'm answering my own question because I've just done this hike: it's difficult, but no more than that (in dry weather, with the ground slightly damp in places at this time of year). The climb at the start is a bit tough on the cardio (no time to warm up).
Obviously, you shouldn't take people who are prone to vertigo or children, and you shouldn't go when the ground is wet. There are few real risks except for taking the wrong path.
Please note that the GPS track is not very accurate, particularly for reaching point 6 (the loop is further north... be careful, if you turn before this point, there is a risk of falling as there is a scree slope... follow the paint marks carefully to find the right path).
For your information, the two climbing steps are marked with paint... so if there are no marks, you are not in the right place.

Apart from these minor issues, the view is magnificent... I spent 7 hours instead of 5 hours and 40 minutes admiring the scenery

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Hello,

Is it much more dangerous/difficult than the Pas du Ruat and Pas de la Mort? I crossed both passes in wet weather without any problems, so I shouldn't worry? No need to rope up? Are the critical sections wired?

Is the circuit feasible at this time of year, or is it better to wait until summer?

Thank you in advance

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