Summit of Orsiere from la Gutary. A circular walk

Description

From Manigod take the road (narrow in places) via Les Coseaux and Joux to park just before the bridge at la Gutary. There is room for about 5 or 6 cars parked sensibly. If all the parking is taken you can continue and park past Sous l'Aguille at the end of the valley; it is easy to pick the route up from here.

(D) from the parking at La Gutary, cross the bridge and take the track on the right past a small house and through woods until you come to a bridge which crosses the river Le Frier. After the bridge turn left on the good track through the forest with the river on your left hand side. (1)

This part of the walk is in woods and on a north-east facing slope. It provides a cool start to the walk but can be wet if there has been rain or a thunderstorm the day beforehand. Continue along the track with one short steep section taking you uphill and away from the river, before walking in trees beside a pasture and then crossing two gullies before arriving once again at the River Frier (2). There is a track crossing the river here which leads to the second parking place and it is possible to start the walk from this point.

Do not cross the river continue with it on your left until the track heads uphill again. It soon levels out with views of the Aiguille de Manigod and leads you to a junction with a good track on the left. Again this good track comes up from the second parking and enables a start to the walk from that point. (3)

Continue up the track through some bends where you can add to the balanced stone sculptures which people are building beside the track side. Continue along the track until it leaves the forest and out onto pasture. On your left you will see the huts at l'Aulp de Frier and ahead are the peaks of la Goenne and Mont Charvin. You will soon come to signposts (4), take a quick rest before heading diagonally up and right across the pasture with some rocks. Walk through a small stand of trees and around a gully before starting to ascend more steeply up another gully and then the spur on its left. You may see goats which roam the pastures here. At the top the path cuts across a stony section before emerging on the pasture and farm at Sur le Freu (5). There may be cattle in this pasture.

Cross the pasture to join the track from the farm and follow this before a signpost takes you off on the right. You are walking near the edge of the cliffs at this point and soon you will arrive at the summit of La Riondaz (6), continue along the path descending a little before ascending again to the summit of Orsiere (7) The views from these summits are good and it is worth staying a while or even enjoying your sandwiches here.

From the top descent again through a pasture (possible cattle) and to a track leading to the farm at le Macheux (8). Pick up the good track which descends and just after a building there is a sharp left hand turn (9). At this point the path leaves the good track and descends, steeply at first, into the forest again. Follow the path as it zig- zags downwards, avoiding right hand splits off the Sarion when they appear.

You will keep descending through the trees until you pass a monument and arrive at Beffort where there is a clearing for forestry work and pasture (10). Turn left and pick up the good track then take the right hand turn down past the farm at La Balme. Cross the pasture diagonally and enter the trees again. Keep descending through zig-zags until you arrive at the split in the track before the bridge over the river Frier (1).

Go over the bridge turn left and follow the track back to the start (A).