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(2963m)
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Between Le Freney in the north and the Thabor mountain hut in the south, Pointe des Sarrasins towers 2000m above the valley bottom. Two routes will be described here, starting from Le Freney and Le Lavoir. The former route should not be done too early in season to avoid late snow in the steep upper slopes. The two routes, done in succession, make for a very interesting but long traverse. IGN map 3535 OT.
From Le Freney
A very long way uphill on a rarely done route. 1850m of ascent, 6h. On a good path most of the time, at least up to the Grand Filon's old mines. No difficulty, but the upper slopes are steep and sustained.
Start
Joly, above Le Freney. Drive up a narrow surfaced road and leave the car when it ends, near a pylon (1100m).
Route
Walk up the trail that goes up the forest and stops at a wooden bridge (1582m). The path that follows winds up the wooded slopes to Les Evettes (chalets), and the ruins of Bonnenuit. The path to the Grand Filon mines is marked in yellow and green. It traverses up towards the right on leaving Bonnenuit. Farther on, leave to your right the path to Bissorte and proceed left towards a cascade. The route climbs to the right of the waterfall and snakes up a more rocky section to reach the upper valley of Plan des Maures. Draw right and climb a steep grassy slopes to reach the small col that gives access to the Grand Filon lake (2635m). Once at the lake, the summit is right above, at the top of a rocky coomb that has to be climbed. Head for a low point to the right of the summit, and left on the ridge to finish (2963m).
Superb route that would deserve more visitors. A dotted line of paths takes the walker up to the old tin mines near the summit of Pointe des Sarrasins. Numerous animals and small lakes. 1050m of ascent, 3h30.
Start
Le Lavoir (1923m), at the end of a good trail that starts in a bend on the road from Le Charmaix to Le Seuil. Park after crossing the bridge.
Route
Go up the winding trail towards the Thabor hut, but leave it to your left at alt. 2100m, on reaching a small dam. Stay on the valley bottom, near the stream. Under the two houses of Le Plan (2152m), look right and locate a steep moraine that splits in two a grassy depression. The footpath starts at the bottom of the moraine, goes up the slope to its left before coming out on vast expanses of grass in the upper Sarrasins plateau. Pointe des Sarrasins is visible now in the background (north). Cross the stream and find a path that runs up the center of the plateau before circling around a small lake (about 2540m). At the end of the shallow lake, walk up towards a gap in the SSW ridge of Pointe des Sarrasins (cairns). Arrived at IGN 2701m, veer right and climb the steep slopes under the summit (old path). Best is to head for the ruins of the old mines and go up towards the ridge above them (less sustained). Pointe des Sarrasins (2963m) is finally gained by climbing the ridge to the right. Before the summit, pass the low point mentioned in the previous route. The Grand Filon lake in within easy reach far below.
Descent
Go down the same way or by traversing down to Le Grand Filon and using the previous route.
From the summit ridge, it is also interesting to follow the Sarrasins ridge towards the west. Easy scrambling and fine views on Mont Coburne et les Marches. Pass a high point (2963m), then the ridge trends south and down towards Col des Sarrasins (cross, 2844m). The last gendarme (2938m) can be avoided by traversing under its east face. Pick your way down almost anywhere and walk past small lakes further down. At the end of the last one (2587m), a path takes you back near Ruisseau des Sarrasins and the ascent route (cairns). Nice circular walk in wild surroundings.
Le Truc - Col d'Arplane (2544m)
This easy and pleasant walk offers fine views on the Charmaix valley, the north side of the Sarrasins range and the southern side of the Vanoise Massif, visited by the Sentier Balcon. Part of it is pathless. 1000m of ascent, 4 hours. IGN map 3535 0T.
Start
Les Herbiers (1650m), facing Plan Monin below the large trail that goes from Le Charmaix to Le Lavoir. Park before the wooden bridge over Ruisseau du Charmaix.
Route
From the bridge, go to Les Herbiers (1664m), then turn right towards Bon Pré (signposted). The path procures a pleasant forest walk. After Bon Pré (1948m), go down a bit, cross a stream and leave to your right the path to Le Charmaix (signpost). On leaving the trees turn right at an intersection and head for Granges d'Arplane (2129m). After and above the ruins, the path loses itself. Choose your route in the grass aiming for Le Truc, up above (2483m, shiny cross). There, the view towards the north and the Vanoise range is superb. Walk up the easy grassy ridge in the SW direction and reach Rocher de Bonnenuit (2590m), then Col d'Arplane (2544m).
Turning right at the col takes you down to Plan des Maures and the lower slopes of le Grand Filon, or to Grand Col de Roc Rouge (2714m) to gain access to the south side of the Sarrasins and the previous route.
From Col d'Arplane, go left and down (east) on steep but easy grass slopes to join the Arplane-La Turra path on the obvious plateau underneath (2250m). The path is underlined by a series of cairns. After intersecting with another path (blue marks), locate a ruin to your left above the Lavoir valley. Turn left towards La Turra where you will find a good path to Le Lavoir. From Le Lavoir, stick to the road for a while and turn left on to the GR5 path. It will take you back to Les Herbiers on the left bank of the torrent.