Mont Paracouerte - Lac Sainte-Marie

From Saint-Dalmas de Tende (06), take the D91 road towards Castérino. Park at the upper Castérino car park.

(S/E) From the car park, head for marker 395.

(1) Turn right, follow the signs for Lac des Grenouilles and Refuge Fontanalbe, take the 4x4 track to an oratory.

Off-trail – no markings – no cairns.

(2) Before the wayside shrine, head north-west into the grassy valley and reach an old building, “le Gias de l’Angelère”.

(3) Keep heading north-west, cross several rocky outcrops on fairly shaded slopes and arrive in a more bare area. On the left, you will see a rock face that you will need to go round.

(4) Take a good look at the ridge of Mont Paracouerte. Directly opposite and still heading north-west, aim for a sort of small pass bounded on the left by a stony slope and on the right by copses. Climb carefully to this pass, where the gradient is around 50% in places.

(5) At this point, take a moment’s rest in the shade. Check your bearings carefully and head south-west. Keep heading in this direction and climb this grassy slope to the summit. Mont Paracouerte is finally visible. Walk steadily to the summit.

(6) Follow this ridge whilst taking full advantage of the scenery. Pass a first small pass after a short section over rocks and head for a second, wider pass at around 2,380 m.

(7) From this point, Lac Sainte Marie is not visible as it is nestled in a hollow and obscured by a ridge at 2,400 m. To locate it, it lies at the foot of the summit furthest to the left. From the “pass”, heading south-west, descend slightly to go round a rock, then climb back up and stay at a constant altitude of around 2,400 m. Although there is no marked path, the route is almost natural if you stay on this contour line. See the photo. Climb a final small outcrop to finally catch sight of Lac Sainte Marie.

(8) Turn left, make your way through the scree to find a spot for lunch.

(9) Still on the scree, head north-east to rejoin a path.

On a cairn-marked path.

(10) Follow the cairns, initially over the rocks, then along a path that becomes increasingly clear. You’ll easily reach Lac des Grenouilles.

On a path and wide track.

(11) Join the track at marker 392. Head back to the left, to the wayside shrine.

(2) Follow the same route back as on the way out, returning to marker 395, then the car park (start/finish).

?♀️ This route is classified as "difficult" for two reasons:

• from (2) to (10), there is no path, no markings and no cairns. A good knowledge of the terrain and a sense of direction are required.
• from (3) to (5), the grassy slope mixed with stones varies from 35% to 50%.

? The IBP statistics for the route give an index of 109 HKG

? Mountain gear, particularly good footwear.

? No water available along the entire route.

• Castérino.
• Mont Paracouerte.
• Mont Sainte-Marie.
• Mount Bégo.
• Lake Sainte-Marie.
• Lake des Grenouilles.
• Lac Vert de Valmasque.
• Agnel Valley.
• Sabion Valley.
• Sabion Peak.
• Roche de l'Abysse.
• Tende Pass.