Cabane de Pravouta - La Plagne

(S) Depart from the Cabane de Pravouta just on the other side of the pass of the same name, on the Roc d'Arguille near the Col du Coq.

(1) Return to the Col des Ayes and find the^GRP®® du Tour de Chartreuse crossroads.

(2) Take it to the left and descend the valley towards Perquelin, coming to a wide forest track and turning right towards the source of the Guiers (sign). At first the track is level, then it turns left and descends; just before this, take the path on the left (yellow markings), which climbs quite steeply at first, then follows the contour line.

(3) Cross the Guiers Mort, which is quite turbulent after rain.
Continue for a few more metres until you reach the small path coming from Perquelin (cairn and painted mark) on the left. Just opposite, a very discreet path starts, indicated only by a small cairn (it is easy to miss if the main track starts to descend; if so, turn back).
Take this path on the right. After 50 metres, it becomes clearly marked.
Climb steadily up the switchbacks, which become a little steeper and more enclosed towards the end, to reach the plateau at Le Prayet.

(4) From here, follow the same route as the previous day. Reach the Col de Bellefont.

(5) Cross the entire plain, passing in front of Habert de l'Aulp du Seuil.

(6) At the end of the plain, still following the^GR®® trail, enter the forest for a good while until you reach Alpette de la Dame with its clearly marked ridge where there are stone boundary markers at regular intervals with the fleur-de-lis on one side and the Savoy cross on the other. Just after the ridge, pass in front of the Alpettaz hut.

(7) Shortly afterwards, a path descends to the left towards Les Varvats. Continue straight ahead, still on the^{GR®® trail}, towards Alpette.
Finally, descend and you will come to a small valley, the bottom of the Pratcel valley. Climb up the right-hand side. The path ends in a cul-de-sac and climbs up the opposite slope to the one you came from, towards the Pas de l'Échelle (a small, fairly steep path).

(8) You will come out onto the large Alpe plain, which is slightly wooded at the beginning but completely bare after the Alpe sheepfold (posts mark the^GR®®).
After a while, the trail descends slightly to the left to enter the forest, where it remains and descends to the Alpette hut.

(9) Climb directly to the Col de l'Alpette.

(10) Descend gently to the hamlet of La Plagne and its car park (E).

3.10.2023 Most of the route is on the private property of the Marquis de Quinsonas, who has closed off part of it, as reported in the media.
The Chartreuse Regional Nature Park is seeking an agreement with the owner so that the trails included in the Reserve's traffic plan (and only those trails) remain accessible to hikers. Between 5 and 7, stay on the^GR®®9.

Please note: during this hike, you will be entering a protected natural area. Please respect the regulations: dogs are strictly prohibited (even on a leash); fires, picking plants and littering are prohibited; camping is prohibited (bivouacking is tolerated between sunset and sunrise).

I set off in the morning in the rain to Prayet, then drizzle for the rest of the day with poor to very poor visibility. Heavy rain melted the snow and almost nothing remained of my tracks from the previous day.
A GPS is absolutely essential.
For information only: departure at 8:30 a.m., arrival at the Col de l'Alpette at 7 p.m. with a 15-minute break at the Cabane de l'Aulp du Seuil at around 1:30 p.m.

(3) Walk about 300 m to reach the trail indicated by the sign to get to the source of the Guiers.