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Park just above elevation 1306 at the authorised terminus of the Bordeaux forest road coming from Prélenfrey (see practical information section).
(S/E) From the car park, continue climbing the path that extends the road after the barrier, heading south-south-west to the Clos crossroads.
(1) At this crossroads, turn right north-northwest onto the Sentier de la Pierre des Deux Heures. This trail first follows a new forest track, then branches off to the left and crosses it again at around 1500m (it is also possible to stay on the track until this point). It leads to the Pierre des Deux Heures on the Sentier du Périmètre.
(2) From the Pierre des Deux Heures, turn right towards the north-east onto the Sentier du Périmètre and continue for about 1 km, almost level.
(3) This will take you to the start of the path leading up to the Double Brèche. Turn left onto this path (north), which is not very well marked and winds its way upwards. Rare salmon-coloured markings indicate the route.
The path arrives at the Double Brèche, which separates the Arêtes du Gerbier from the Ranc des Agnelons rocks. Continue to the true summit.
The route leaves the path here and continues to Col Vert.
(4) From the summit, it is possible to follow the ridge running north-northeast towards Col Vert, but some passages are a little tricky. An easier alternative (marked on the map) is to descend via the ascent route to just above 1,800 metres, then head north along the hillside and gradually climb back up towards the ridge, keeping north.
(5) On this ridge, pass the boundary marker between Le Gua and Saint-Paul-de-Varces, clearly marked in green on a white background. From there, follow the ridge north-northeast, staying within ten metres of it, to reach Col Vert.
(6) From Col Vert, or more precisely from the small bench below the pass, take the path that heads north-east (a little exposed) and gradually descends to the Deux Cols path.
(7) At the trail junction, continue north-northeast (left) on this trail which, after a gentle kilometre, begins to wind its way up the slope beneath the imposing Roc Cornafion (red markings alternating with yellow).
(8) The Deux Cols trail arrives at a fork (rock) where the Roc Cornafion path branches off to the left (north-west). This path continues in a series of switchbacks to just below the summit and is marked with red and blue paint that is half faded.
An easily recognisable couloir climbs in a fairly steep staircase directly below the secondary summit (due west). Put your walking sticks away in your rucksack from this couloir onwards. Gain a foothold on the secondary summit after placing your hands on the rock. From there, head south and descend the breach that separates the secondary summit from the main summit: although impressive, this passage can be crossed without a rope and even without using your hands, thanks to narrow natural steps. Then, simply climb the large, solid rocks that lead to the true summit. It is this last passage that justifies the difficulty rating of the hike.
Return:
(9) From the summit, descend via the ascent route to the Deux Cols trail.
(8) Turn right towards the south to descend to the intersection coming from Col Vert, where you arrived on the way up.
(7) At this intersection, continue down the Deux Cols trail towards the south to reach the Col Vert hut.
(10) This marks the intersection with the Col Vert trail, which you descend southwards via La Glacière and Le Pas de l'Âne (see IGN map for their locations) to the start of the Périmètre trail.
(11) Take this path, which climbs up the slope to the right towards the south-south-west, passing by the start of the Double Brèche path.
(3) Continue in the same direction to return to the Pierre des Deux Heures.
(2) Turn left further south to descend the Pierre des Deux Heures trail taken earlier on the way up. Descend this trail via the ascent route to reach the car park (S/E).
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Visorando member
Difficult 
Moderate 
Extremely difficult 
