The Belledonne High Crossing GR738
2023 France
Itinerant hike on the Haute traversee de Belledonne GR738
from August 14 to 22, 2023
Itinerary committed to roaming for 9 days (for me), with its 10,500 m D+ (9,500 m D-), this GR is among the major ultra-sporty crossings alongside the GR20 or the GR54. Haute Traversée de Belledonne GR738, otherwise called the shepherds' path for its pastoral character... in 11 stages from north to south.
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Monday August 14 - Stage 1: Aiguebelle station to Baraque à Michel (Pontet forest)
Arrival at Aiguebelle station (319 m), starting point, in the north direction towards the south of the GR738. 1300 D+, 750 D-, arrival altitude 1266 m
Start of the walk with a full supply of water at the fountain in the village of Montgilbert. Crossing the hamlet of Pontet to continue and climb into the forest. Stop at the hut in Michel (1266 m) where I prefer my tent at the very rustic cabin.
Tuesday August 15 - Stage 2: Michel's hut (Pontet forest) at the unguarded refuge of La Perrière (1832 m)
1800 D+, 900 D-, arrival altitude 1832 m
Start of crossing the Belledonne valley (from north to south)
Unguarded refuge of Perrière (alt. 1832 m)
Sunset from the Perrière refuge
Sunset from the Perrière refuge
Wednesday August 16 - Stage 3: Unguarded refuge from La Perrière to the guarded refuge from Pierre du Carre
1300 D+, 1400 D-, altitude arrivée 1761 m
Refuge de la Pierre du Carre (alt. 1761 m)
Sunset from the Pierre du Carre refuge
Thursday August 17 - Stage 4: guarded refuge from Pierre du Carre to guarded refuge from L'Oule
1300 D+, 1400 D-, altitude arrivée 1840 m
Circus surrounding the L'Oule refuge
Refuge de L'Oule (alt. 1840 m)
Sunset from the L'Oule refuge
Friday August 18 - Stage 5: guarded refuge from L'Oule to the hamlet of Fond de France - Gite de la Martinette
800 D+, 1550 D-, altitude arrivée 1080 m
Saturday August 19 - Stage 6: Gite de la Martinette at the guarded refuge of Sept-Laux
1150 D+, 130 D-, altitude arrivée 2135 m
Lac Noir shortly before those of Sept-Laux
Lac Cottepens (opposite the Sept-Laux refuge)
Lake Cottepens with a view of the Sept-Laux refuge
Lake Cottepens
Lake Cottepens
Sunday August 20 - Stage 7: guarded refuge from Sept-Laux to guarded refuge Jean Collet
1400 D+, 1600 D-, altitude arrivée 1950 m
Ascent to the Col de la Vache (alt. 2534 m)
Passage of Col de la Vache, the highest point of the GR738
Iron Mine Pass (alt. 2404 m)
The pass to climb (in the center of the photo)
Sunset from the Jean Collet refuge
Sunset from the Jean Collet refuge
Sunset from the Jean Collet refuge
Sunset from the Jean Collet refuge
Monday August 21 - Stage 8: Jean Collet guarded refuge at the Pra guarded refuge
1000 D+, 800 D-, altitude arrivée 2105 m
Preparation for departure from the Jean Collet refuge
Picnic near Lake Crozet
Rest time in the afternoon, around Lake Merlat (20 minutes from the Pra refuge)
Refuge de la Pra (alt. 2100 m)
Walker's rest on the terrace of the Pra refuge
Leave the flock of sheep to spend the night below the Pra refuge
Stop to pass the footbridge!
The herd returns to its meadow to spend the night, under surveillance of the patoux
Tuesday August 22 - Stage 9: guarded refuge from Pra to Recoin (Chamrousse 1650)
475 D+, 975 D-, altitude arrivée 2105 m
Dawn
The herd is still there in the early morning.
Last step on the GR738 before descending to Chamrousse 1650 (Recoin) station. I am not doing the last and 11th 'official' stage Recoin - Vizille 410 D+, 1785 D-
Final stop for me at Le Recoin, Chamroussee 1650 station, and take a bus to Grenoble (and a TGV to Paris)