Cheval Noir (2832m)
[E-Mail]
Click on the map
|
 |
Located east of the Col de la Madeleine, Cheval Noir is the highest of the mountains that surround St François. Daunting in appearance, it is nevertheless an easy and short climb. A yellow-marked path will take the walkers to the top, where a magnificent panorama awaits them. This hike is best done in June to avoid steep and hard late snow, which can make the last slopes under the Col du Cheval Noir a lot more difficult. No difficulties, some steep passages. Altitude difference: 900m, 3h. A classic.
Start
The Cours d'en
Haut chalets (1921m). From St François, drive up the road to the Col
de la Madeleine. 50m after the second bend, turn right on to a good dirt
trail. Stop under the second shepherd's
barn not far from a skilift.
Route
Walk around the barns, cross a stream and take the general direction of the start of the côte 2305 skilift. Follow the lift until it turns left. The route follows the skilift track, then traverses right onto another path (difficult to see at first). It seems preferable to follow the bottom of the coomb and the stream to find the path about 150m further up on a flat grassy section. The route then traverses right and up the slopes on Cheval Noir's west face. The going is sometimes steep but easy and well-marked. Coming out at the Cheval Noir gap provides a surprising change from the steep and austere west face to the vast grassy expanses of the south ridge. Turn left at the gap and see the path as it slowly climbs the scree on Cheval Noir's top slopes. The route goes up the flat ridge, then turns slowly right and steepens on nearing the summit. The end offers fairly sustained walking. Count about 45 minutes from the gap to the top. Wide panorama: to the south, Mt Bellachat and Grand Coin , to the west, the long ridge that comes down from Gros Villan and finishes at Le Grand Mas via the Sarvatan et Montjoie cols.
Go down the same way.
(Back to the map)