Sainte-Victoire : Bau Cezanne - Garagai - Deux Aiguilles de l'Anchois

I've lived near Sainte-Victoire for a very long time and I'm a hiking leader. I know the massif very well, as well as all the trails there.
The proposed route is magnificent, but difficult and currently forbidden (there was a major landslide last December and others are threatening).
Note: the description is correct, but the associated map contains a major error: it says:
- Point 2: Pas de la Savonnette: this is in fact the spot (above the Cézanne refuge) from where the yellow route to the Pas de la Savonnette starts off to the north.
- Point 3: Pas du Berger. This is a big mistake: it's actually the Pas de la Savonnette (which has been off-limits since 2009). The Pas du Berger (a well-known and much-frequented route) is not on this itinerary, but further west on a path marked in red that starts from the Cézanne refuge; it ends at the crest of the Pas du Moine and not at the Bau Cézanne.
The Pas du Berger is a slightly technical but not difficult climbing route. It's currently open and I climbed it about ten days ago with some friends.
It is definitely not on the route described; the map and its legend are completely wrong on this point!
Marc Lassalle

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Despite the closure, there were enough people on the course today.

It was great, it's quite difficult and not at all extremely difficult. I did it with my 9-year-old son without any problems.

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However, I can confirm that on the black/green route, the passage through the Hirondelles cave (petit/grand Garagai sector), and several other passages along the route, is clearly tricky.
On OSM, this passage is listed as T4 (sac_scale), i.e. "Alpine Hiking".

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Yes 👍, thanks for the clarification.

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The question doesn't arise anyway, as the yellow path has been banned by municipal by-law for years (2015).
So there's no reason for you to go there...

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Be careful not to lose the markings, and watch out for rockfalls or you could end up off-piste. The passage through Garagaï can be complicated for the uninitiated and the climbing part can also be technical. I wouldn't go with children who are sufficiently armed.

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Just as a reminder, the yellow path is currently banned by municipal order dated 25 March 2019.

Personally, I was not aware of this, I went down the red path today and took the link path for the yellow path... no signpost when I went that way.
So I unwittingly went over the pas de la savonnette on the way down.

It was hot (and so was the chain ^^), and the air was heavy and clammy, just like my hands.
The footholds were nothing more than a few completely smooth bowls, no better for the hands and the chain was totally slippery.
I had to descend by putting a finger of each hand in the chain links, alternating and changing fingers regularly to get tired (all the weight of the body on the fingers)... and there was no way to take a break during the descent, no footing to rest on.
I'm a qualified climbing instructor, so my fingers are very muscular, and I was wearing FiveFingers... I don't even see how a hiker in hiking boots, even an experienced hiker but not a good level climber, can go up there (and even less so on the way down) in hot conditions (slippery chain).

Note that the yellow route no longer goes via the pas de la savonnette (no more markings). The bypass route (previously marked in dotted yellow, apparently) has become the default path (classic yellow markings).

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superb route
for hikers with mountain feet and no fear of heights
be careful with your footwear too, take mountaineering-type shoes

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great outing with friends, two sections a bit 'hard' for experienced hikers. hands are often needed and, above all, you need very good shoes
the route description is very detailed and you can't get lost
we had a great day, and on the way back we looked down on the route of the Sainte Victoire, it's impressive to see where we've been
we went out with 'pasapaspaca'.

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The map wasn't detailed enough for us, so we mainly followed the written advice, which was very detailed.The hike isn't easy for everyone, as there are some tricky sections to reach the summit. The passage with the chain for people with little experience and two or three passages bordering on pure climbing. Nevertheless, we reached the summit on a sunny and very hot day. We returned via the Pas de l'Escalette route. It was a three-hour climb for those of us in our sixties, but we didn't waste too much time. In any case, thank you for the directions. The markings are very well done, so don't lose sight of them on the way up.

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I did it in 2 hours 20 minutes on 24 October...
Well, I'm far from being a tourist and I'm used to very sporty walks, it's true, but there's one thing that makes all the difference: I'm alone... With another good walker, the time would be different and it would take slightly longer and so on.
With another good walker, the time would be different and it would take slightly longer and so on. The more people there are, the longer it takes, that's an observation.
If you're a good walker, I'm sure you'll do it in less than 4 hours.

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It was a very nice hike, the second time I'd done it.

I just wanted to point out that doing this loop in 3 hours 50 minutes is not for everyone! Or maybe my friends and I aren't "average hikers" but a happy band of dreaming snails...

Excluding breaks (meals, stops at the priory, etc.), I think you should plan on a 5-hour "walk" without dragging your feet too much, or getting lost along the way. So, unless you're an ultra-trail runner as well as a seasoned climber, it's best to avoid setting off too late, especially in winter! For your information, including breaks (meals, visits, photos, etc.), it took us 7 hours the first time and 6 hours the second.

This hike deserves its "very difficult" classification, and it's not easy to find certain passages the first time (the entrance to the chasm, for example). Some climbing steps can be difficult for people who are not used to climbing.

That's all, or nearly all: thank you for this guide!

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Hi RickyH5,

Thank you for your comment.

I also know the Sainte-Victoire very well and all these tours are a delight every time.

I've corrected "l'Anchois" to Plan de l'En chois, we'd missed it!

Thank you for pointing it out.

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In the Ste V climbing category, I have to say that I really enjoyed myself.
I did the route yesterday in fine weather.
First point: if it's windy, if it rained the day before or a few days before, avoid it as there's a lot of exposure and the pas de la savonnette is aptly named!
Secondly, you need to have some knowledge of climbing: even if it's not at a very high level, it's still pure climbing at times, so we're not really doing classic hiking here, and the slightest mistake will be fatal.
A length of rope may prove reassuring for those unaccustomed to this kind of exercise.

Thirdly, and rather amusingly, this is not the "pont de l'Anchois" (I dare you to look it up on your GPS )
==>> Le pas d' En Chois To be corrected.

Thank you for the topo, it's really nickel chrome. Note that the black markings on the descent are not at all easy to follow, so don't end up in the Forcioli...

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I enjoyed this walk on a fine day with no wind (I wouldn't do it on a mistral day).
Very aerial and mineral, but it's an original way of climbing Sainte Victoire.

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