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La Chal
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Updated 30/06/2003 |
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The
Ravoire Gorge - ND des Abimes
The Ravoire torrent that runs down from Grand Coin has at times in the past flooded the Pontamafrey area, stopping all traffic in the valley. It has dug deep and impressive gorges that can be visited. The two routes described below are both on the right bank of the stream. The RTM path will be described as an ascent route and Notre Dame des Abîmes as a descent, thus offering a very interesting circuit. IGN map 3433 ET.
The RTM path
This very spectacular path can be taken at various altitudes. The Noiret - Entrenants section offers three very airy passages, high in the cliffs above the gorge. These short passages are protected (cables), but going there necessitates a good head for heights and some caution. It should not be attempted too early in season to allow for spring repairs. It does not figure on IGN. From Pontamafrey to Montpascal, 900m of ascent, 3h. Difficulty: heights. The path itself is easy. Recently, signposts warning about the danger have appeared in the cables section. They are clear : you do this path under your own responsibility.
Start
Pontamafrey. Drive up to a steel bridge over the Ravoire on the dirt trail that goes from Pontamafrey to the Clinel estate. The first part of the climb uses the marked and signposted Tours path (Sentier des tours).
Variation (steeper) : Climb a steep path that goes straight up from the Clinel estate along a canal, winds its way up the wooded cliffs above and comes out at Villaret d'en bas, where it joins the Moulins bridge.
Route
Walk up the large path on the Ravoire's left bank,
which soon starts climbing under the Montvernier cliffs. Cross a suspended bridge
and continue on the right bank this time up a succession of rocky steps and
ledges (cable, waterfalls). About 100m after leaving the first gorge, go right
and cross the stream on wooden beams. 10 minutes later, reach Villaret d'en
Bas and the Le Chatel - Montvernier road at Pont des Moulins. Pass the bridge
and turn right towards Les Moulins. After and under the two old wooden houses,
cross the stream again and walk up the left-bank path for1/4h, until you join
a grass track that must be descended towards the stream. Cross the Ravoire again
on a couple of tree trunks thrown across the water. Go left and past a few yellowish
rocks, then up again a steep wooded slope that comes out on a flat field near
le Noirey. Keep near the edge of the field and go right up to find the start
of another path. The route can also be taken at this point (940m, parking space).
The
path goes through a series of climbs and traverses that slowly take the
walker near the cliffs that tower above the Ravoire's right
bank. There is only one intersection, near the start: turn right. This
section of the route requires caution: there are three passages dug into the
cliff rock
that put you in a very airy position above the gorge. There are cables
for safety.
After a 45-minute climb, reach a small dam near Entrenants. Turn left on a trail and right immediately on to an old path that goes up the forest on the left bank of the stream. Some passages may be awkward if the earth has subsided. When you finally find another old trail, go left, pass one bend and turn left again on to a path that ends in Montpascal.
Very
interesting descent, it leads the walker back to the flat field near Le Noirey.
The route figures on IGN 3433 ET. From Montpascal,
walk down on a wide path past Chapelle Saint Benoît, then left from the
road on to a path (signpost). This path goes down gently at first but soon becomes
very steep and winding in the cliffs hanging over the Ravoire gorge. Go past
the tiny chapel of Notre Dame des Abîmes (small niche in the rock). Impressive
views on the gorge. Near the bottom, turn left at an intersection to join the
flat field and the ascent route.
Route Combinations
- For the "hard men", walk all the way up to Grand Coin (2200m of ascent from Pontamafrey!).
- From Le Noirey, go up the RTM or ND des Abîmes routes. Go on up to Col du Chaussy above Montpascal, traverse La Chal and go down via Chalet du Mélèze towards le Fragnin and Montbrunal to go back to Le Noirey. Interesting and recommended.
- From Entrenants, you can also go up to Villaret d'en Haut and Col de la Baisse. This area is described elsewhere (Le Chatel).
La
Chal (or Tête de l'Armettaz, 1838m)
From Col du Chaussy
Short family walk starting at Col du Chaussy. Not much in the way of ascent (300m) and easy. Take the trail that goes west from Le Chaussy to Chalet du Mélèze. Then left again at the chalet (signpost) on to a path that climbs the west slopes of Tête de l'Armetaz. From the top, you can walk down direct to the col (grass).
From St Martin-sur-la-Chambre (Ladders' path)
Much longer route (1240m of ascent, 4 hours) with a few awkward passages. If the route has not been ascended before and memorized, walking down that way is definitely not recommended (the path is easily lost under Le Fay, and the cliffs below do not allow for any route-finding error). In its lower part, where all the difficulties are, the route is signposted. Varied and interesting, but not easy.
Start
The Chamorand power station in St Martin sur la Chambre, on the road to Col de la Madeleine. Park at the end of the road.
Route
Cross the Merderel and walk diagonally across a wide grass field to your right. The first signpost is at the end of the field, when you enter the forest. The path goes up the bottom of the gorge for a while then starts climbing the very steep wooded slopes on the left bank of the Merderel. The path progressively gets narrower and steeper until one passage has to be negotiated by climbing up two steel ladders (caution). The second ladder comes out on a torrent's rocky bed which is left at once for a leftward traverse and a climb up a steep field under Le Fay (1109m). Should you use the same route to descend, make sure that you can locate the passage above the ladders.
Cross the small hamlet of Le Fay and take a good path to La Colonne (1284m). Start on the trail to Le Fragnin and draw left after a few meters on to a path that runs up the middle of the wooded crest that climbs towards Col du Chaussy. This forest path is very pleasant. After a steeper passage, it comes out on to the Chaussy pastures at the Chalet du Mélèze. Once again, locate the start of the forest path if you intend to use the same route to go down. From Chalet du Mélèze, walk up to La Chal (see above).