Crossing the Lances de Malissard ridges

Park in the Saint-Philibert car park (altitude 928 m), in the hamlet of Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont on the D512.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, turn right onto the D512 towards Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont, until you reach the entrance to the hamlet of Les Cloîtres.

(1) Just before the Les Cloîtres sign, take the track on the right, pass the logging platform and climb the short, steep slope. Once at the top, follow the forest road to the right (south-east). After about 800 m, just before the Regreny huts, leave the road and take the first wide track on the left (north-east), which quickly turns south-east.

(2) After 200 m, it turns left to head northeast, following the hollow of the Grand Pré valley, now a forest. The stony track climbs for 1 km before leaving the forest. Follow a northeast trail through tall grass to continue towards the Col de Fontanieu.

(3) Near the pass, the trail turns right and rejoins the forest, where it continues along a path climbing along the ridge of the pass. It joins the Malissard valley (elevation 1,599 m), which is usually used to reach the Fontanieu chimney.

(4) Leave this path on your right and continue on the path opposite, which leaves the forest, climbs up a rocky slope in hairpin bends and, after returning to the woods, joins the foot of the cliff. Photo: Foot of the western cliff

(5) Follow it to the left, heading north. Descend along the rock face on a very exposed stony path equipped with cables and an iron handrail . Photo: Descent to the Fontanieu chimney. It overlooks a cliff with an impressive drop, but this is partially hidden by vegetation. About 500 m after the fork to the left, the path splits into two branches. One continues straight ahead, the other passes to the right between a rock and a tree: this is the start of the Fontanieu chimney. Photo: Start of the Fontanieu chimney. Photo: Fontanieu chimney

(6) This chimney, approximately 150 m high, is climbed via a series of closely spaced switchbacks. Take the steep, unstable and slippery earthen passages with the utmost caution, as some are not equipped with cables. In these passages, it is recommended to test the stability of the ground before attempting them. In the middle, a small natural tunnel crosses the rock face: you can venture in and out to enjoy a beautiful, vertiginous view. Photo: The window of the Fontanieu Chimney

(7) At its exit, the trail offers a magnificent view of a cirque, which you will avoid a little further on by keeping to the right. Photo: Exit of the Fontanieu chimney Follow a ridge to the right; shortly after, leave the small path on the right and continue straight ahead to cross a wooded escarpment and reach a grassy slope that you climb up to the south-west.

(8) At the top, the trail slopes left and heads south to descend the western slope on an exposed ledge. Photo: The ledge It climbs back up and follows a dip in the ridge on the east side for 300 m, then crosses back to the west as the ridge rises. Continue to the gap leading to the Roman inscription. Photo: Chimney leading to the Roman inscriptions

(9) The visit to the Roman inscription, which is optional, involves a round trip of about 150 m in total. The 20 m high access breach is located 100 m before the end of the cliff. Why have the recent safety equipment, platform and access cables been cut flush with the rock face and removed, when climbing on a slight overhang isdangerous ? If you find this passage difficult, then give up, as it will be much more difficult on the way back. The inscription HOCVSQVII AVIIORVM carved into the rock face is barely visible and is not worth the detour. At the end of the cliff, follow a clear trail on the east side towards the Lance Nord. This path becomes difficult and then disappears into the sharp limestone pavement. Photo: The sharp limestone pavement

(10) It is then easier to progress closer to the ridge. Photo: The Malissard ridges Do not hesitate to climb up and down, crossing sharp limestone pavements, slightly below the ridge. About 500 m before the North Lance, a better-defined path climbs diagonally beneath it.

(11) Near the Lance Sud, it crosses a wide gap. Photo: The Lance Sud then climbs up to the right (south-west) on the ridge of the lance to the summit (2,045 m).

(12) Retrace your steps and descend (southeast) along a steep but easy path to the Roc de Bellefont and continue to the Col de Bellefont, where you will rejoin the GR®9.

(13) Turn right to descend via the GR®9, following numerous large switchbacks down the south-west slope towards Saint-Pierre de Chartreuse. The trail passes a spring, then the Habert de Bellefont.

(14) Turn right and continue along the GR®9 for about 1 km until you reach a crossroads above a signpost on a path below.

(15) Leave the GR®9 on the right (north) and shortly afterwards reach the Col de la Saulce (altitude 1,495 m). Descend the Malissard valley, crossing a few streams, and join a forest road.

(16) Continue straight ahead. Further on, go through a barrier preventing unauthorised vehicles from going upstream and continue to a fork.

(17) Leave the path on your right that descends towards the Ruisseau de Malissard: this is the start of the trail usually taken for this crossing. Continue straight ahead and, opposite the cemetery, rejoin the access road. Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

This hike runs along the lands of the Marquis de Quinsonas from WP (7) to (13) on the western boundary of the estate, which is currently closed to the public.

Caution: this route includes some exposed sections. It is not suitable for people who are afraid of heights or who do not have experience of exposed sections and short climbs. It also requires a good level of fitness. Avoid at all costs in wet weather due to the risk of slipping in the Fontanieu chimney and when crossing the sharp limestone pavement. It is advisable to take a walking stick to test the stability of the ground from a distance, then stick it into the ground below you to balance and lighten your step. Choose a telescopic stick so that you can put it back in your bag when crossing rocky sections.

• The Fontanieu chimney, with a slope of about 45°, is a very exposed corridor of unstable ground, often wet and slippery. Test the stability of the ground before attempting the few unprotected sections.

• The route of the strap is exposed.

• The breach providing access to the Roman inscription has a platform, cables and handholds. The descent is via a slight overhang, which can be difficult. Do not hesitate to turn back if you feel uncomfortable on this type of terrain.

• Once you have crossed the strap, you will cross sharp limestone pavements and steps for 3 km. Progress is difficult, with a succession of ascents and descents. The trail disappears on the rocky sections, so follow the ridge as closely as possible, where the terrain is less rugged.

The hike is off the marked trails, except from point (14) to point (16), where it follows the GR®9.

Alternative route from point (17) to point (4) via the usual route through the forest.
From point (17), descend the path towards the south. Cross the Malissard stream, enter the forest and climb two hairpin bends (east). Leave the path on the right (altitude 1176 m); higher up (altitude 1200 m), the path becomes horizontal.
After 100 m of flat ground, ignore the path on the right. The path, heading north, continues flat across three valleys. It reaches a fork (altitude 1217 m): take the ascending branch on the right. After a right-hand bend, on the very steep climb (east), it passes a path on the left and turns right (south). It leaves a path on the left (altitude 1330 m) and continues south, descending slightly to meet a new path going in the opposite direction, which climbs to the left (altitude 1375 m).
Take this ascending path, continue straight ahead, leaving the various paths on the left and right. After 1.5 km of steady climbing from the intersection (altitude 1375 m), you will return to the point (4).