Access: Drive to the Plateau des Glières via Thorens (or via Entremont, crossing the plateau). When the road comes out onto the plateau, at the bottom of a short descent, take the road on the right towards Notre-Dame des Neiges, Dran. The tarmac road gives way to a track suitable for vehicles: follow it to the car park in Dran.
(S/E) Follow the track south towards Notre-Dame des Neiges.
(1) Continue for 100 m on the track after the chapel, look for a cairn and a path on the right, follow it (old yellow markings and cairns). It is impossible to go wrong as there are no crossroads. However, remain vigilant, especially in the sharp limestone pavement areas at the summit, to spot the markings and cairns. You will arrive at Tête Noire.
(2) The rest of the hike along the ridge is now clearly visible.
Take the path heading south and you will quickly reach a rocky passage (a small, easy 2-metre chimney to climb down). This is the only difficult part of the route. Then follow the path that climbs up to Tête Ronde.
(3) Continue south on the ridge towards Tête de l'Arpettaz (pronounced Arpette). You will reach a crossroads at the foot of the summit.
(4) Take the left path to the summit marked with a cross.
(5) Return to the previous crossroads.
(4) Take a path that branches off to the left. Follow it (old red markings and cairns) until you come out of the woods in the Vallon d'Ablon.
(6) Descend this valley on the right to reach the Chalet d'Ablon.
(7) Here you have two options:
- take the path on the right, "par la barre", which is generally more interesting and easier, and joins a first track. Cross this track and continue along the path for 200-300 m until you reach a second track, where the two paths meet.
- continue along the wide track, which also joins the junction of the two tracks; this is the route shown on the map.
(8) Continue along the track to reach the Dran car park (S/E).