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Casse Massion
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The ridge that goes from Croix d'Albiez to the summit of Casse Massion, above Les Karellis skiing resort to the east and the Albiez side to the west, can be reached by a network of marked paths that provides a wide choice of routes. Some passages require caution, at various altitudes. There are many possible starting points: Albiez -le-Jeune, Les Karellis, Villargondran or Le Bochet, the last two from the bottom of the valley, so much longer and more sustained, especially if you choose to start from Le Bochet. IGN map TOP 25 - 3435 ET.
Drive up to the village and take the dirt road that goes up to Les Roches. Leave the car towards 1650m (park on the side of the trail). The path starts at the end of the trail and reaches the Croix d'Albiez after 40mn of easy walking.
Drive to the resort and to the end of the road (1 676m on IGN). A good level path leads to Croix d'Albiez in 40 minutes (signpost). You can also start below the resort from a turn in the road (1378m), or 150m further up the road (signpost). This very fine forest path joins the Karellis route just below Croix d'Albiez .
Two possibilities:
1 - From the Saint Roch chapel: leave your car behind the chapel (to your left before entering Villargondran). Cross the bridge. The path starts here (signpost and green marks in the forest). It provides pleasant walking in the shade and reaches Albiez-le-Jeune in 2 hours. There, go up the Albiez-le-Jeune route (see above). The altitude difference is not inconsiderable (1350m). In 1994, an enormous rockslide cut the path near the top. Walk across the devastated zone, staying level, and find the path again on the other side.
2 - From Plan de la Millière: A bit more sustained, the path starts from a flat vacant lot to the right of the Villargondran - Le Bochet road (573m). After a succession of wide twists, the path reaches a more airy section. A short downclimb leads to an old slate quarry and its ruins (water). Join the path from les Karellis at about alt. 1600m (signposts).
By far the most difficult access to the upper sections, but very interesting. It takes an old path that led to now disused slate quarries (the black caves that are very visible from below in the shale cliffs). The route does not figure on IGN maps. It starts about 100m before the new bridge over the Bochet torrent (670m). The route winds its way up the cliff system on the lower slopes above the road. A few passages demand caution, especially around the quarrying zone further up, and the path is relentlessly steep. Do not try to visit the caves unless you do not put a high value on your life. Towards 1350m, the path becomes less steep. On a flat section, do not miss a left turn on a path that will take you up to the Karellis route (1600m, signpost). If you miss the turn, go on, join the route from Plan des Millières and turn left (or right to Villargondran if your objective was only the lower part of the walk).
Croix d'Albiez - Casse Massion (2433m)
A remarkable and easy ridge walk on a very good path, except one point towards IGN 2241m, where you can choose to walk on the Albiez side (not recommended, exposed) or, in spite of its forbidding appearance, stride the rocky ridge itself (better and easier). Under a big yellow cross, the path leaves the ridge to the left and goes up a scree and dirt slope to a col between the yellow cross and Casse Massion, where it is easy to reach the cross (2370m), or Casse Massion (2433m). Fine views from the top. Go down the same way or use the pistes to descend to Les Karellis.