|
Les Pics de la Buffe d'en Haut (2933m)
Click on the map
|
 |
Very far from the madding crowd. Long route, and paths are not always available. One waterfall passage before the Coins des Français requires a minimum of flair and experience. Isolation guaranteed. Altitude difference : 1650m, 6h.
Start
Entraigues (1280m), 4 km before les Chambons on the St Jean - St Sorlin road. Park your car before entering the village.
Route
Start from Entraigues. Take a path towards the Valfroide stream. Go up the narrow valley on its left bank (right as you go up). Bits of paths enable you to avoid more acrobatic passages in the stream. Use them to save your strength for the episodes to come. Just before the Coins des Français waterfall and to your right (left bank) a smaller waterfall issuing from the Pré des Bruns torrent (coming down from the col de l'lnfernet) runs down obvious limestone strata. That is the key passage. Reach the bottom of the cascade and go up right across green alder patches to find an old path that has fallen into neglect. It will take you up through a spruce forest to a shepherd's hut at IGN point 1960. After the hut, walk up about 100 m along the stream coming down from the upper slopes of Roche Courbe. Cross the rocky ridge along the stream and finally reach the Col de l'lnfernet (longish). Go left (south-east) and up the ridge to reach the north summit of la Buffe. It is a steep and airy scree ridge, but without difficulties.
Descent
Same route. For the stronger walkers, it is possible to traverse to the Col de Martignare and go back to Entraigues on the Arvan-Villards GR found above the Rieu Blanc. Descending directly via la Saussaz and Fond de Valfroide is a very uncertain proposition (nonexistent paths and very steep slopes).
By drawing right from the Col de l'Infernet, you can also join the Col de l'Agnelin by a very easy ridge walk.