Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
(D/A) - Parking de la Lauze (1560m). Rejoin the track and follow the switchbacks or cut them to climb northwards.
When the track veers off to the left, continue straight on northwards, staying at the top of a vague ridge.
As you rise above the talc quarry, the ridge becomes more pronounced and the route more obvious.
There is a marked trail, but it's not always easy to follow at first.
At around 1900m, as the ridge becomes sharper, we overlook the Etang de Béseil on our right.
Continue due north along the well-marked Nadel ridge. We reach the summit of the Nadel ridge.
1h30 - Le Nadel (2092m). The ridge continues horizontally, then climbs again to reach the Col de Techeyrou, then an unnamed summit.
2h00 - Unnamed summit (2256m). Étang Tort can be seen below to the northeast. The ridge rises to the left (north-west). A well-marked path leads us up to the summit of Soularac. The last part of the ascent is a little airy and requires a little help from the hands in places.
2h30 Pic de Soularac (2368m)
Return via Pic de Saint-Barthélemy and Sarrat de Bertenac
Descend to the left along the western ridge of Soularac (heading west). The climb begins through large boulders, requiring a little care. Follow the yellow markers, which once again provide good guidance.
The rest of the descent presents no difficulties.
Reach the Col du Trou de l'Ours (2215m). The upper pond can be seen on the right below.
Climb the ridge opposite to the summit of Pic de Saint-Barthélémy (heading west). The climb is not difficult. Only the very last part requires a little help from the hands to climb up through the boulders.
3h30 - Pic de Saint-Barthélémy (2348m). Descend to the left on the broad south-facing ridge of Saint-Barthélémy. Be careful not to get too close to the peaks on the eastern slope.
3h50 Pic des Bugarels (2222m). Reach the summit, or avoid it by turning right. Descend to the south along the Sarrat de Bertenac . Stay on the highest part of the ridge, keeping away from the peaks on the eastern side.
At around 1740m, well before reaching the forest, the path turns sharply to the left in a hairpin bend. We descend across the forest (heading northeast).
At around 1700m, the path continues to run flat, joining the forest, which it skirts on the left.
Beyond the forest, the path descends to the right to join the pas du Gai (heading southeast).
4h15 - Pas du Gais (1680m). Cross the Fontronne stream and head southeast. Shortly afterwards, the path rises to the left, above the forest, and soon joins a track. Follow it to the right (south), first slightly uphill until around 1760m, then gently downhill.
At around 1730m, the track begins a series of switchbacks. You can then either follow the track to the parking lot, or cut straight across to reach the starting point (heading south-southeast; 166°).
5h00 - Parking de la Lauze (1560m)
When the track veers off to the left, continue straight on northwards, staying at the top of a vague ridge.
As you rise above the talc quarry, the ridge becomes more pronounced and the route more obvious.
There is a marked trail, but it's not always easy to follow at first.
At around 1900m, as the ridge becomes sharper, we overlook the Etang de Béseil on our right.
Continue due north along the well-marked Nadel ridge. We reach the summit of the Nadel ridge.
1h30 - Le Nadel (2092m). The ridge continues horizontally, then climbs again to reach the Col de Techeyrou, then an unnamed summit.
2h00 - Unnamed summit (2256m). Étang Tort can be seen below to the northeast. The ridge rises to the left (north-west). A well-marked path leads us up to the summit of Soularac. The last part of the ascent is a little airy and requires a little help from the hands in places.
2h30 Pic de Soularac (2368m)
Return via Pic de Saint-Barthélemy and Sarrat de Bertenac
Descend to the left along the western ridge of Soularac (heading west). The climb begins through large boulders, requiring a little care. Follow the yellow markers, which once again provide good guidance.
The rest of the descent presents no difficulties.
Reach the Col du Trou de l'Ours (2215m). The upper pond can be seen on the right below.
Climb the ridge opposite to the summit of Pic de Saint-Barthélémy (heading west). The climb is not difficult. Only the very last part requires a little help from the hands to climb up through the boulders.
3h30 - Pic de Saint-Barthélémy (2348m). Descend to the left on the broad south-facing ridge of Saint-Barthélémy. Be careful not to get too close to the peaks on the eastern slope.
3h50 Pic des Bugarels (2222m). Reach the summit, or avoid it by turning right. Descend to the south along the Sarrat de Bertenac . Stay on the highest part of the ridge, keeping away from the peaks on the eastern side.
At around 1740m, well before reaching the forest, the path turns sharply to the left in a hairpin bend. We descend across the forest (heading northeast).
At around 1700m, the path continues to run flat, joining the forest, which it skirts on the left.
Beyond the forest, the path descends to the right to join the pas du Gai (heading southeast).
4h15 - Pas du Gais (1680m). Cross the Fontronne stream and head southeast. Shortly afterwards, the path rises to the left, above the forest, and soon joins a track. Follow it to the right (south), first slightly uphill until around 1760m, then gently downhill.
At around 1730m, the track begins a series of switchbacks. You can then either follow the track to the parking lot, or cut straight across to reach the starting point (heading south-southeast; 166°).
5h00 - Parking de la Lauze (1560m)
