Les Monges

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Be more specific about the starting point.
Above all, do not enter the village of Esparon, but continue along the road to find the unmarked track. Is it accessible by car?
Result: 2 hours longer from the village
More generally: in the mountains, we talk in hours, not kilometres, which is completely useless

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To reach the starting point, we followed the directions provided in Sergekai's comment on 5 August 2019. For those who prefer walking to driving, the approach to the starting point is a bit tedious, but the scenery is beautiful and the gravel track is in decent condition.
The proposed starting point does not have a car park as such, just a widening of the track that can accommodate three or four cars. However, we found the gate open and a sign indicating that traffic is allowed from 1 May to 31 October. And 300 metres before the lake there is a proper car park.
From the lake, yellow signs indicate the direction to follow and, as long as they are in place, you can follow them to the summit of Les Monges. This is particularly useful if you don't have GPS.
At point 3, there is no path leading off to the right. It is the stony track that branches off to the right, while the GR6 continues straight ahead as a path, which is the route you will take on your return.
The description omits an important intermediate point between points 3 and 4, where you leave the stony track for a path on the left. The direction is clearly indicated by a yellow sign.
Until then, we were a little puzzled by the term "gorges du Pradon". In fact, it is more of a cirque that you suddenly discover and overlook as you leave the forest just before point 4. This cirque is clearly marked on the map and the hike suggests walking around it.
The yellow signs clearly indicate the path to follow to the summit of Les Monges. A final sign points towards the Croix de Veyre and then... nothing! We were therefore unsure of the exact direction to take, but the contour lines led us to believe that we should follow the ridge furthest to the left, along the edge of the cirque, without descending significantly, but mindful of the steep descent that inevitably awaited us at the end of the ridge. This is the most challenging part of the circuit. The Col de Veyre is below.
After that, we had a good enough view of the site to find our way by sight, as the GR6 signs we found were sometimes unreliable. Then we found the signs for the lake.
We saw vultures at the summit and encountered two marmots near the rocks below the Clapouse hut.
We are moderately fit and set off from the lake car park. It took us just under five hours, taking the time to admire the landscape.

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Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The off-trail section between Les Monges and La Croix de Veyre is not easy; we tried to follow the trail that took us into a steep, sloping area, as a result, we ended up on a small shoulder, which was easier to navigate, and once we reached the La Croix de Veyre pass, we found a signpost indicating Les Monges (but what route? And it didn't exist at the top of Les Monges, so it was signposted in one direction but not the other)...

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Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
The GR 6 trail that goes from Esparron-La-Bâtie to Lac des Monges needs to be cleaned up and cleared of numerous broken or uprooted trees (pines). On our way, we discovered the beautifully constructed new refuge.
The flora was lush. The silvery lake with its little ducks... pure bliss!
Thank you all!
Kind regards.

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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

We completed the hike on 10 October as a reconnaissance trip, with bright sunshine and a light breeze at the summit. We were able to enjoy the 360° orientation table to the full. The descent to the Veyre cross is not easy as there are no markings and the last 300 metres are difficult for some people. This was confirmed on 12 October during the club hike. Although the entire circuit is not suitable for everyone, parts of it can be done by all and the site is magnificent. We had a wonderful day. Colourful foliage, deer, ibex, foxes, eagles, vultures... The only thing missing was mushrooms, as the rain had not yet made an appearance.

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Date of your route : Oct 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike that you never tire of!
It's a shame that it was so dry, but the autumn colours were starting to appear.

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Date of your route : Sep 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Nothing to report.

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Date of your route : Aug 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with exceptional views.
The directions provided are minimal but sufficient: personally, I used the text (and occasionally the GPX route to check when I was unsure), but not the map. As the route is very well marked, it's easy to find your way. However, it is better to have good visibility at altitude, as the crossing between the summit of Les Monges and the Col de la Croix de Veyre does not offer a well-marked path...
I think it's a good idea to do the loop in the direction indicated (I'll have to try it the other way round), as it avoids being intimidated by the route at the bottom of the cirque: by turning in this direction, you do most of the climb without seeing how far you still have to go and you reach the top without any worries, with just the last half hour being a little steeper. Afterwards, you can enjoy the ridge and the descent with an exceptional view.
The estimated time of 6½ hours seems quite generous to me, as does the "difficult" rating: I don't think there are any particular difficulties (although walking poles are quite useful for the descent on the Col de la Croix de Veyre). It's certainly a bit long for people who aren't used to walking, but if you take your time, it's very doable, and it's very easy to turn back if you feel you won't make it...

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a very beautiful walk!
Although the Lac des Monges lake is not particularly interesting, the walk through the forest and along the ridges is definitely worth the effort. And if you like wild strawberries, you'll find it hard to resist stopping every 20 metres...
The description needs a few clarifications:
- To reach the car park, don't go through the hamlet of Esparron, but turn left 100 metres before it (signposted "le lac / le pont"), then take the track on the right 500 metres after the water treatment plant. Then take the track on the right (small ford) about 2 km further on, and turn right again 500 m after that.
- From the summit of Les Monges, follow the trail rather than the yellow markings and cross the ravine to follow the ridges before descending to the Col de la Croix de Veyre.

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike on Monday morning in fine weather, with no particular difficulties. I was able to see vultures at the summit of Les Monges.
A pleasant hike

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Date of your route : Sep 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike that I have done several times without ever getting tired of it
Magnificent view from the summit of Les Monges.
You can park a little higher up in the last car park.
For the return trip, it's better to go via the Col de Clapouse rather than going straight down.

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

Great results, but only for people who are already in good shape.

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Date of your route : Jul 31, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike, half of which is through the woods. An alternative route is possible, starting not from Esparron but from Baudinard, via a marked trail that leads to Lac des Monges (a fairly steep climb but through a beautiful forest, +400 m, 3.5 km).
The road from Reynier to Baudinard is unpaved but passable.
Swimming in Lac des Monges is not possible, at least in summer, as the water is muddy, which is a shame...
At the top of Les Monges, the return trail is still not visible until the Col de la Croix de Veyre.
I saw six magnificent vultures at the summit of Les Monges.

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Date of your route : Jul 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Apart from the suggestion to take a shortcut on the right at the start, which is tedious and unnecessary, the entire route is pleasant. This mountain is recommended for hiking enthusiasts in summer and winter, whether for Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.

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Date of your route : Jun 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike. The vegetation is lush at this time of year after the rainy season, which makes this hike even more appealing, as it already offers beautiful views. The paths are well marked. It is easy to follow the route, even just by looking at the map.

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