Crossing the Rochers du Parquet

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Encounter with ibex.
A very beautiful hike with stunning views of Mont Aiguille.
Very slippery descent on the winding paths through the woods, with lots of mud.

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Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent panoramas!
Right from the start, you can see the Pas de l'Aiguille and its summit, which leads to the Resistance monument.
Some beautiful climbs at 22% - 25%.
First encounter with ibex among my four encounters, including groups!
I'm lucky! And they're very close :-)
We have to head towards the cave, which is clearly visible from a distance on the right.
It's not easy to find your way, even with a trail, as there aren't really any paths. From time to time, we find paths where we can see signs of passage ;-)
There is a path on the left, but it takes us away from the Rochers du Parquet and we are less likely to see ibex.
It's quite a physical challenge with all these ups and downs!
I come across the herd of ibex for the second time, some of which are fighting :-o
I watch them, but I'm still very close.
It's another steep climb, even though the terrain isn't too difficult.
Then, in the distance, we can see what looks like our descent (although it's difficult to judge from a distance).
Once again, opposite Mont Aiguille, a small group of five ibex pass right in front of me :-) Great! They're not afraid at all!
The long descent with Mont Aiguille in front of us is sublime, and we're glad that this descent is quite long given the view. Great hike!
Then, closer to Mont Aiguille, we tackle the descent, which is not too difficult except when we enter the undergrowth, where it is particularly muddy at this point. Some tricky passages, therefore.
Coming out of the undergrowth, I'm also lucky enough to see the two bidets in the meadow in line with Mont Aiguille towards the end of the hike.
A very beautiful view on the descent once you reach the Aiguille! And even before that.
However, the descent from the base of Mont Aiguille is long and very muddy at this point, as it was a few days earlier.
Even more beautiful than the Tour du Mont Aiguille, but much more physically demanding.

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Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, quite busy for the most part, but then again, it was a Saturday😁. We saw ibex and the landscape was a feast for the eyes. From the Col l'Aupet, the winding descent through the woods was very muddy and slippery due to the rain that had fallen. Best to do it when it's drier.

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Date of your route : May 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I've wanted to do this hike for a long time.
Now I've done it. A superb hike.
I think it could be done closer to the ridge, but that would probably involve some hill climbing and wandering around the sharp limestone pavement.
Don't hesitate to go via the Chamoux rock at an altitude of 2,024 metres.
The GPX track passes just below it. It would be a shame to miss out on this beautiful viewpoint.

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Date of your route : Jan 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Circuit done in reverse with a slight variation to go to the Col de l'Aupet, safer in winter if there is a lot of snow on the slopes of Mont Aiguille. Be careful when climbing the Pas de la Selle, however, as it is prone to avalanches.
There was quite a lot of snow on the plateau, so snowshoes would have been useful.
We didn't meet anyone until we reached the monument.
Be aware that it's a long walk in winter with snow, so you need to be a good walker or bring headlamps... Ultimately, if you want to use snowshoes, it might be better to climb up to the plateau via the Pas de l'Aiguille and do a loop up there. In any case, it's a superb hike, marked with cairns on the plateau.

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Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike thanks to the diversity of the landscapes and also the encounter with some fairly tame ibex... The weather on the day prevented us from admiring the more distant mountain ranges, but the views of Mont Aiguille are fantastic.
Nevertheless, the route was spoiled between the cave (after the war memorial) and Pas de la Selle by having to rely almost constantly on GPS. Navigating "by sight" is dangerous due to the numerous faults. We certainly didn't manage to find a compromise between the top of the cliffs and the valley, but we had been warned by the comments!
Thanks to the author.

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Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
The climb up to the Pass of the Needle is quite steep but very pretty. The monument site is very beautiful. However, between points 3 and 7, it is quite a difficult hike to follow as there is no marked path and you have to try to follow the GPS track and the direction without going up and down too much on the plateaus... I think you should follow the line of the cliffs without getting too close, which allows you to enjoy the views because it is very beautiful!
The descent into the large scree slope is very beautiful. We saw some beautiful ibex and then descended through the forest. Don't hesitate to start from the Col de l'Aupet and continue a little further to get closer to Mont Aiguille.
A very pretty route, thank you!

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Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 10 July 2023 with two juniors aged 11 and 17
A tough climb to the Pas de l'Aiguille, but the reward is at the end, with the arrival at the monument and the great high-altitude plain. We refilled our water bottles in the stream below the monument and ate our sandwiches in the cave near No. 3, a cool haven on this hot day. The crossing of the parquet is rather long. The path is not very visible, but with good orientation and, above all, GPS, you always find your way back. In fact, it is best not to aim too close to the edge of the cliff, otherwise you will have to tackle all the ups and downs of the customs officers' path. On the plateau, it is better to follow the OpenStreetMap trail further inland. Pleasant descent through the woods on a soft path
A pleasant route that is not too busy; we only came across a few people
Thank you for this hike

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I would say rather not to do it before the snow melts... which can be at a date that is unfortunately, and increasingly, very unpredictable...

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Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Numerous snowfields on the way back with narrow paths along precipices. Not to be attempted before the end of May... too dangerous

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Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, the scenery is magnificent and we also saw marmots and ibex

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Date of your route : Aug 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Teenager I climbed Mont Aiguille with a guide: Mr BOZON. Sixty years later, I wanted to show my wife this beautiful place. So we chose this wonderful hike. It was quite physically demanding for our age, but doable. We saw ibexes near the resistance fighters' cave. We were able to observe them quite closely. On the hilly plateau, we appreciated the VISORANDO app, without which we would still be there. On the descent, at the foot of Mont Aiguille, it was magical. The Trieves is truly magnificent, but you have to earn it.
PP and MM

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

Very beautiful hike, not easy to follow the route, very easy to get lost even if you are very careful, beautiful flowers, lots of ibex, recommended for hikers who know how to find their way and bring a map.
Best regards

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Date of your route : May 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike: exceptional wildlife, flora and panoramic views...
gPS is absolutely essential on the plateau

at the end of May, there are still a few patches of snow on the descent

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Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In fact, there are hardly any tracks. We got lost at the Pas de l'Ours and therefore missed the faint tracks. Do not take the visible path towards the Pas de l'Ours, as it will lead you to the centre of the plateau. We headed towards the Rocher du Parquet and then turned back. On the way back, the trail was more visible and led to the Pas de l'Ours. I should have built a cairn...
Otherwise, we saw ibex and marmots.
Magnificent view of Mont Aiguille

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