The summit of Le Méale

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The journey along the tarmac road is not particularly interesting, especially in the heat. It is better to park in the forest car park and walk the loop under the trees.

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Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

Hike completed in hot weather. Departure from Les Orres village centre, difficult to find a parking space. On the way back, we discovered the church car park, which has plenty of spaces.
The start of the hike to the hamlet of Haut Forest is not very interesting as it follows a tarmac road. Then you take a track and at an altitude of 1,801 metres, you enter the woods, which is much more pleasant.
The route from this point to the plaster factory is no longer valid because tree felling has changed the route. We followed the TRAIL signs to find the right route. Then we continued on to the summit. When we arrived, the Patrouille de France flew overhead (even though we had come incognito, laughs!).
The view from the summit is superb, a beautiful 360°.
The descent is easy, still through the woods to the forest car park. Then we took the very (too?) busy track. Not much of interest there either.
If you want to cover some elevation, this circuit is well designed. If you only want to see the summit, check out the other circuit starting from the forest car park (Sommet de Méale sans le 'Le').
We had a very good day, thank you for suggesting this route.
Hike completed in 5 hours 25 minutes + 1 hour for lunch at the summit.

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Date of your route : Jul 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed today. Very shaded, making it pleasant despite the intense heat of summer 2022.
The start and end of the hike are on roads/paths, which is of relative interest to "less experienced walkers".
If you want to shorten the hike, go to the forest car park, the forest road is a bit bumpy but passable by car. See the "Sommet du Méale" hike without the "Le" in front.

However, the GPS track is inaccurate when you reach around km 5 and pass the 1870-1900m altitude.
The route starts on the right on a forest track and winds upwards a little further on, turning left. This left-hand track no longer exists. There are landslides.
Therefore:
When you reach the forest path, turn left (you will see a yellow cross on a tree to the left of the path) and:
- either turn right almost immediately onto a small path that climbs into the forest (currently marked by a plastic sign saying "Trail")
- or go down the forest track a little and turn right as soon as possible.
The hairpin bends that follow will eventually bring you back to the trail.
A few dozen metres more to find our bearings... No problem.

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Date of your route : Jul 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The signposting is good once you are on the right track. Very poorly explained at the start. At the forest car park, head left towards the tables, even though this direction is blocked off on the sign nailed to the tree. Then just follow the signs.

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Date of your route : Sep 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Departure from the church square in Les Orres. A beautiful, well-marked hike through a magnificent forest with remarkable views of Lake Serre-Ponçon. The climb is steady and easy. At the summit, there is a lovely 360-degree view. Please note that access to the forest car park is not recommended for cars due to its condition.

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Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in early May, with little snow except at the summit (40-50 cm in places), which prevented me from climbing the last few hundred metres.
Few people given the season.
The trail is well marked with signs throughout the hike.
Nice view of Lake Serre Ponçon.

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk with no particular difficulties either on the way up or on the way back. It's hard to get lost. Magnificent views at the summit.
The return trip after the car park is not very interesting. Cars, quads and motorbikes on this last stretch. The world will never change.

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Date of your route : Jul 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a very pleasant hike through the woods, 1,000 metres of easy climbing, and a beautiful view from the summit.

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk for a lovely day. Exceptional views. 80% of the climb to the summit is in the shade.

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Date of your route : Sep 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The trail is now well marked. There are no difficult sections
The view from the summit is truly magnificent
I didn't find the descent through the forest unpleasant. Perhaps the last part after the car park, but that doesn't last long

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Date of your route : Sep 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,

A very beautiful hike this Sunday. Thank you for sharing it.
However, please note that the uphill path is different from the one you mapped out.
I think the ONF has changed the route since then. After the first climb in the forest, you come to a forest track. Your route takes us to the right, following the track.
In fact, you have to follow a plasticised sign that has been added by the ONF, which takes us straight ahead.
If you follow the added signs and not the GPS track on this section, there's no problem.
The track is back on the route after this section.

Thank you again for sharing this hike

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Date of your route : Jul 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Thanks for the trail, hike completed on 16 July 2019
Nice hike on the uphill section through the forest undergrowth, but the downhill section is uninteresting, so it might be better to go back down the same way
Superb 360° view from the summit
Philippe

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Date of your route : Oct 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant hike without any major difficulties. I would classify it as moderate and recommend it because it is really enjoyable.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A slight downside is the road at the start and the track at the end of the hike, but it's worth it! The 360-degree view from the summit is spectacular!
The elevation gain is easy, and the trail winds pleasantly through a beautiful forest for most of the way.
Happy hiking, everyone!

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant walk with beautiful views of Lake Serre-Ponçon and the Embrunais region. The start is a little steep, but once you reach the woods, the gradient levels out and you can enjoy the walk

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