Cabane de Pravouta - La Plagne

(S) Set off 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 rejoin the^GRP®® Tour de Chartreuse junction.

(2) Turn left onto it and head down the valley towards Perquelin; you’ll come to a wide forest track and turn right towards the source of the Guiers (signposted). Initially flat, the track turns left and descends; just before this, take the path on the left (yellow markings) – it 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 markings) on the left; directly opposite, a very inconspicuous path begins, marked only by a small cairn (it is easy to miss; if the main track starts to descend, turn back).
Take this path to the right; after 50m it becomes clearly marked
Climb steadily along switchbacks, then a little steeper and more enclosed towards the end, to emerge onto the plateau at Le Prayet.

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

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

(6) At the end of the plain, still following the^GR®® route, head into the forest for a good while until you reach the Alpette de la Dame, with a clearly defined ridge where, at regular intervals, there are stone boundary markers bearing the fleur-de-lis and, on the other side, the Savoy cross. 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 on, still following the^GR®® towards L’Alpette.
You’ll eventually descend into a small valley—this is the bottom of the Pratcel valley—and climb back up it on the right. It ends in a cul-de-sac; the path climbs up the opposite slope to the one you came from, heading towards the Pas de l’Échelle (a fairly steep little path).

(8) You’ll emerge onto the large Alpe plain, which is slightly wooded at the start but completely bare after the Alpe sheepfold (signposts mark the^GR®®).
After a while, the track descends slightly to the left into the forest, staying there as it heads down 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 along the path indicated by the sign to reach the source of the Guiers.