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ROUTE 5

Le Chazelet (1786m) – Plateau d'Emparis – Lac Noir (2430m)

Start	Le Chazelet (1786m)
Distance	8km (one way)
Total Ascent	644m
Grade	1–2
Time	2hrs 45mins (4–4½hrs return)
Location	West of La Grave

This is the second walk to visit the Plateau d'Emparis (marked as Plateau de Paris on the IGN map), and for visitors based at La Grave it is the obvious and more popular route. An elevated pastureland with an atmosphere all its own, the Plateau rewards with tremendous views and an abundance of Alpine plants. If walking all the way from La Grave you should remember to add at least 2½hrs for the return journey. Should you have your own vehicle, there's plenty of parking space on the outskirts of Le Chazelet.

La Meije from Lac Lerié

From the parking area on the northwest side of Le Chazelet cross the Torrent du Ga on a bridge where a good path (GR54) then makes a left-hand hairpin and rises steeply with zigzags up the hillside, at first heading southwest. The way then turns to the right, passes beneath a ski lift and crosses a shoulder at 2164m. This is near the end of the Côte du Caux. Wander round the slopes of the Serre Bernard (a delightful belvedere), cross a stream and slant up to the open, rolling Plateau d'Emparis. At about 2300m (2¼hrs) the path forks. Bear left across grass hillocks to find Lac Lerié in its hollow. This is a lovely tarn from whose shores you gaze due south across the unseen depths of the Romanche to the glaciers which adorn the opposite wall, and southeast for a magnificent view of the Meije. Pass round the right-hand side of the tarn and wander west over more hummocks to the larger Lac Noir.

To return to Le Chazelet, follow the minor path heading roughly north, then northeast to Col du Souchet, where you come onto the GR54. Bear right and follow this all the way back to the car park.

Other Walks from Le Chazelet

A short and easy round trip of about 50mins leads to the small Alp hut of LES PLAGNES in the lower reaches of the Combe de Martignare, northeast of Le Chazelet. The Combe is a pastoral glen rimmed by grass-covered mountains, and the path to take is that which forks by a white ski-school building above the road at a hairpin bend northwest of the village.

A second option is to take the path along the east bank of the Torrent du Ga to the hamlets of RIVET DU PIED, RIVET DU MILIEU and RIVET DE LA CIME, and continue as far as you like towards the head of the glen which narrows below Pic du Mas de la Grave.

The ascent of PIC DU MAS DE LA GRAVE (3020m) makes a straightforward but rewarding day out from Le Chazelet (5hrs ascent, 8hrs there and back). For this, take the path mentioned above through Rivet du Pied and so on as far as the Baraque de la Buffe (1¾hrs, 2085m), where several streams come together to create the Torrent du Ga. The way then climbs southwest, before flanking north-northwest above a hanging valley. Cairns mark the start of the ascent proper which strikes up the mountain's grassy southwest ridge. This turns to rock at about 2650m, and more cairns guide the way to the summit. Views from here are extensive.

A two-day circular walk, with a night spent at REFUGE RIF TORT, follows the path mentioned above through the Vallon de la Ga as far as the Baraque de la Buffe, then curves southwest to cross a grassy spur at about 2275m. Over this wander alongside the Rif Tort stream which brings you close to the refuge. On the second day cross the pastureland of the Plateau d'Emparis to join GR54, and take this path heading southeast over Col du Souchet and down to Le Chazelet.