Signal and Lac de Soi from Plan de Soi

Departure from Plan de Soi. Park in a small car park along the Route des Rives, in a hairpin bend just next to a bridge over the Torrent de Frassenaye.

(S/E) From the car park, return to the bridge and immediately turn left onto a path that enters the forest (do not cross the bridge). Climb parallel to the stream a short distance to your right. Then turn left and continue climbing. Turn right at the hairpin bend and climb until you reach an alpine track.

(1) Cross the track and continue climbing on the path opposite. Shortly afterwards, cross the track again. Turn left at the hairpin bend, then right. Cross the track a third time, make several hairpin bends and rejoin the track.

(2) Follow the track to the left for about 30 metres, then turn sharply right to continue climbing along a path through meadows dotted with trees and shrubs.

(3) At a crossroads, take the second track on the right, still following the mountain track. After about 20 metres, turn sharply left onto a path that enters the forest. Further on, make a hairpin turn to the right and exit the forest. Pass a chalet on the left and rejoin the mountain track.

(4) Cross the track, continue along a path and cross a trail. Make a few hairpin turns and rejoin the mountain pasture track at a hairpin bend.

(5) Continue along the track, taking the right-hand branch. After about 200 metres, take a sharp right turn onto a path through small trees. At a fork at the end of the copse, bear left. After skirting the bottom of a scree slope, you will reach a crossroads.

(6) There are two options here:
- If you do not wish to climb the Signal de Soi, turn right and refer to the next reference point (6).
- To climb Signal de Soi, turn left. At a fork, take the left path (north-northwest). Then make a sharp turn to the left, then to the right. You will quickly reach the top of the grassy ridge.

(7) Retrace your steps.

(6) At the crossroads, continue south-east. Climb up the Arête de Soi and pass close to the Pierre à Midi.

(8) At the first rocky escarpments, veer right and leave the ridge. Continue along the path through the mountain pastures. Walk along the top of a small rocky outcrop on the right-hand side and make a few turns while staying on the main path. Pass at the foot of a rocky escarpment on the left and turn right to reach Lac de Soi.

(9) It is possible to walk around the lake, especially if you are looking for a good place to stop.

(9) The descent is via the same path, in the opposite direction.

(6) Once again, there are two options here:
- If you didn't climb the Signal de Soi on the way up and you still have time and energy, you can always go there and back. Continue straight ahead and follow the directions given above.
- Otherwise, turn left and descend the same path you took on the way up, crossing the alpine track several times. This will take you back to the car park along the Route des Rives (S/E).

Hiking boots required.

No water sources identified along the route.

Detailed map useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed by the author on 21 August 1972.

Lac de Soi offers a beautiful high mountain atmosphere! You are at the foot of the imposing Dents du Midi, notably the four central peaks, each rising above 3,100 metres: from left to right, La Forteresse, La Cathédrale, L'Éperon and La Dent Jaune. The small Glacier de Soi clings to the foot of these peaks (but for how much longer?).