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Roche Château (2898 m)
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Long walk going all the way up the Neuvachette valley, to a summit that is the meeting point between three separate valleys, the Neuvache (Valmeiner), Neuvachette (Valloire) and Clarée valleys. Depending on the chosen starting point, the elevation will be between 1100 and 1300m, with a long, fairly level walk at the beginning, with a few descents. 5 hours. Updated 01.07.2004.
Several starting points are possible, the highest one cutting the least interesting part of the walk, from les Diseurs to les Selles and la Plagnette. You can
1 - start from Geneuil, above Valloire, taking the flat trail to Les Diseurs and find the start of the path before crossing the Neuvachette (signpost "Les Selles"). Turn left at a the ruins of a house.
2 - drive up to Les Diseurs on a steep forest trail starting from the UCPA building between Valloire and Les Verneys, then cross the river and find the previous route at the signpost.
3 - drive up to Les Diseurs and drive on to a wide resort trail for about 3 kms. When the trail makes a 180° turn left, leave the car and find the signpost signaling the start of the path about 100m after the bend.
Route
From Les Diseurs, the path slowly gains height. It is in pretty bad repair, especially at the beginning. It then passes along a few renovated chalets, then cuts the trail (start 3) and continues under another trail to La Plagnette (sheep barn, 2110m). The latter trail is joined just before the barn. The path descends and traverses toward the bottom of the valley and crosses the stream that comes down from Roche Château (sometimes difficult in spring and early summer).
Keep on walking on the path that now leads towards col de la Plagnette, and on arriving below Aiguille Noire, now very close, turn left and head for the end of the Vallette valley. The summit is now visible (see photo).
The pleasant grassy section of the valley ends at the bottom of the steeper upper slopes. Leave a small lake to your left (2636m), walk up an easy first slope and a steeper second one. Head for a col at the right of the summit and finally turn left and climb the last easy ridge to the top. The summit provides a very wide panorama on the Cerces and Mont Thabor massifs. Below the summit, do not miss the many small lakes of the upper Neuvache valley.
From the top of Roche Château (180°)
Descent
Same route. It is also possible to walk down the Clarée side to the Drayeres hut, then go up again to the Rochilles and col de la Plagnette to find again the Neuvachette valley not very far from the sheep barn (very long).