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The start is 500m past the hamlet of Le Serre in Terminis, which can be reached from Clelles (via the Col de La Croix-Haute road) or from Mens via the Col de Mens.
(You can also set off from the Boutari car park in the Ebron Valley, then join the ascent path as described at the end of the guide to return to Le Serre).
(S/E) Leave the track that heads right towards the Grotte de la Fétoure and take the forest track opposite, which climbs up to Champ la Selle.
(1) Head straight up, veering slightly to the right twice, following the ‘Yellow Planes’ signposts.
The path eventually emerges from the forest and climbs up a ridge where the memorial stone and the wreckage of the plane that crashed here are situated.
(2) From the memorial, at the foot of the Grande Casse, cross the scree to the left and follow a path up through the steep woods of the Poët de Plantin. On emerging from the forest, at the edge of the ravine, the path reaches a clearing where a chalet once stood.
N.B. It is also possible to head straight up the ridge towards the memorial until you reach the level ‘tour de ronde’ path: from there, turn left.
(3) From this clearing, head right through the grass to rejoin the ascending path as it enters the woodland once more. It joins the old patrol path, which you should follow to the left along level ground.
Before reaching the scree, a path branches off to the right, heading back up in wide switchbacks into the Seia mountain pasture.
(4) From here, the long, north-bound, ascending traverse begins; after crossing an initial ravine with unstable scree, it climbs the often grassy slopes of the first section of the Petites Charances (the easiest part).
The path in this section comes to a halt at the cliffs carved out by the upper Ebron basin: the route continues higher up.
(5) A switchback allows you to climb up to the pass leading to the upper part of the Petites Charances.
The path gradually becomes less steep but much more exposed, crossing grassy, rocky or scree-covered slopes – all of which remain steep – whilst crossing ravines that are often rockier (use your hands for support here).
The ridge is not far away, near the Cols du Courtet, du Nid and Col de la Cavale. But it is closest at the foot of the Col du Portail.
(6) From the path, climb for 10 minutes to this pass via a corridor of ‘devoluard steps’
(7) For a view of the eastern face: Combe de la Prison and Tête de la Cavale.
(6) Head back down the Sentier de la Baronne, which crosses a first ridge at the same level, then, at the start of the descent, a second ridge, 20 metres above a narrow, perforated rock slab.
(8) Descend through the scree to reach a grassier ridge leading down from the Tête de la Cavale. Then follow a series of cairns; at the last one, make sure not to miss the descent into the valley to the north.
(9) Join the main hiking path coming from Rochassac.
(10) From the junction with this path, head back south-west towards the Courtet mountain pastures.
(11) The path descends via wide hairpin bends (alternative route described in the practical information section).
Caution: do not descend too far down the Saint Baudrille-et-Pipet slope, but veer left at the end of the hairpin bends (south-west direction) to ensure you cross over onto the Tréminis slope.
The path is marked in yellow as you approach the altitude of 1,717m.
(12) Turn left towards the south-east to cross over onto the Sous-Courtet slope (forest ranger’s house) and, via switchbacks through the Pravert forest, quickly lose altitude to reach the Pravert torrent and its RTM structures.
(13) A track for machinery to ascend is available from here, but its dusty hairpin bends are conveniently bypassed by the yellow-marked ‘Ebron route’ path.
(14) Cross the Ebron and, after two bends, head straight down the old track, which cuts across the hairpin bends of the new track.
At an altitude of 1,190 m, turn left to descend a signposted forest track, which follows the Combe Amare, to a junction by a stream (1,140 m).
(15) Continuing straight on would lead to the Boutari car park. To return to the area above Le Serre, turn left and head up an old track, which has been destroyed by flooding: from here, you’ll be following a path that is now heavily eroded and littered with rocks and pebbles carried down by a flood of the Torrent des Chaberts.
Climb up to the old ford, now unrecognisable, to cross the torrent and rejoin the forest track on the left bank, which remains in good condition and descends straight down to meet the ascent route.
(1) Turn right onto this path to return to the starting car park (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
Very difficult 
