Country:
District:
Access:With a high-clearance vehicle => see author's note in the introduction.
From La Grave, take the D1091 towards the Col du Lautaret. Go through the tunnel, then immediately after the tunnel exit, turn right towards the villages of Les Cours and Le Chazelet.
Drive through the village of Le Chazelet, descend, then take the track towards Pic du Mas de la Grave for 6.5 km, ignoring any junctions.
Pass the hamlets of Rivet du Milieu and Rivet de la Cime, the Chalets de la Buffe, then park near the yurts and Chalets de la Grande Buffe.
With a standard vehicle
Park in the car park above Le Chazelet, then walk up the track to the Chalets de la Grande Buffe as described above.
In this case, the total distance of the route increases to 23.5 km with an elevation gain of 1,270 m.
This hike can be done over two days with an overnight stay at the refuge.
(S/E) Take the path that continues on from the track to the foot of the Cabane de la Buffe hill.
(1) Ford the Gâ torrent and then climb north-west up the valley where a stream flows for a distance of 80 m.
(2) Take the path on the left towards Pic du Mas (sign).
The path climbs generally south-west, then turns right to the north-west and, after a long traverse, reaches the broad grassy ridge of the peak.
Our path climbs in stages up steep slopes. With altitude, the landscape becomes arid and mineralised.
After passing along the side of a secondary summit where there is a superb cairn, it descends gently onto a flat section and then begins its ascent of the summit ridge, winding its way discreetly through the slabs of schist. This brings you to the summit, marked by a simple cross.
(3) Return via the same route in reverse to your parking spot (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
Moderate 
Very difficult 
