Mont Barbeston, from the car park on SR10

Description

0h00' Take the wide mule track that starts at the edge of the regional road. You will soon come to a marker indicating the destination (Bellecombe, path , 1h30'), ignoring path on the right that leads to the Gimiod pastureland, and proceed moderately uphill on the beautiful mule track with stone paving. The wide mule track narrows near a small bridge just before a small wall topped by a grating that protects the Saint-Clair hydroelectric outlet below. The trees thin out a little, leaving room for some interesting views of the town of Châtillon and the Dora Baltea below. A couple of sharp turns give way to the Torrent de Pessey impluvium and the resulting lush vegetation. Quickly cross the little road that leads to Salèche, ignore it on the right, and take the left to cross a little stone bridge that crosses the Torrent de Pessey and anticipates the village of Taxard, which we will not reach.

0h20' Immediately to the right of the little bridge, at an altitude of (597m), the path starts and immediately enters the dense forest, passing above the houses of Taxard. The path begins to increase in gradient as it crosses an initial strip of woodland, predominantly oak (Quercus pubescens), which then opens up with wide panoramic views of Ussel below, Saint-Vincent and the imposing mass of Mont Zerbion. After a few twists and turns, the trail proceeds almost level until it reaches a small concrete bridge over the Torrent Moriolaz, after which it begins to climb up the wooded slope again with moderate intensity, a series of hairpin bends quickly leading to the first crossroads with the municipal road to Bellecombe (855m).

0h50' Follow the road to the right for a few hundred metres, taking a hairpin bend to the left until you come to a shy yellow marker on the right that invites you to resume the path. The forest changes appearance and the chestnut tree (Castanea sativa) becomes predominant. The path climbs without too many twists and turns and once again reaches the municipal road (897m), which is only taken for a few metres, as immediately to the right a new marker indicates that the path should be taken again. The path climbs up the forest again and the foliage often covers the path almost entirely. With a few twists and turns, you reach the road again (948m) and, after a last stretch of path, you finally reach the road just near Bellecombe. Turn left and, at the sight of the first houses, turn right across a beautiful meadow with a fountain 💧 to reach the clearing on which we find the pretty chapel dedicated to Saint Anne (1002m) 1h30' .

0h00' 0.00km Walk close to the markers indicating paths and take the dirt track that turns immediately right around the village. Follow the road through the pleasant chestnut and birch forest and, after a few bends, you will come to a fork in the road: ignore path which branches off to the right and continue on path along the dirt track.

0h20' 0.58km Continue straight on until you come to a metal barrier which prevents vehicular traffic, to be bypassed on the left, and continue along the dirt track which climbs up the wooded slope with a series of bends, some pleasant views of the Valtournenche peaks accompany the walk which is in itself a little boring in this section. After passing a section with a steeper slope, the road flattens out before reaching Mont Ros dèsot (1415m, 0h50').
0h20' 0.58km On the left of the cottages there is a signpost with directions to Mont Barbeston: join the path that begins to climb up the wood in a diagonal ascending line to the right. After an initial moderately steep section, you come to a small stream, which can be forded without any problems, and a gate (1485, 1h10'). Once past the gate, a small spring is found (useful for possible water supplies) and the ascent begins again with greater intensity in the now completely coniferous forest. After a turn to the left, we come to the ruins of Biolasse (1600m, 1h30') and reach a short plateau crossed by a small stream. The trail tends to the right as it begins to climb again in the vicinity of Toule (1841m, 2h00').
Having left the path to Salé, which branches off to the right, we skirt a peculiar circular basin, used in the past to collect spring water, and begin the steep ascent towards Col Goddet. The path rises considerably and ascends the steep slope between juniper and bilberry trees in a fairly sparse larch forest. Having passed the steepest section, the trail veers to the right as the view opens up to the final destination. At the end of the diagonal to the right, turn left to reach Col Goddet (2110m, 2h35') and the junction of the path (8B) coming from Hérin.
Continue now on the ridge, in the direction of the summit. The path is not very obvious but easily navigable, even if it is overgrown with low vegetation in places. The remarkable panorama on both sides of the direction of travel and the relatively undulating section make for pleasant progression. Slowly, the path begins to climb again, always keeping to the edge of the ridge, until it reaches the junction with path coming from the Vallone di Chalamy, which is obviously to be disregarded. You start climbing again with decided intensity, leaving behind the last tenacious larches. With a series of twists and turns, you overcome about 200m of difference in altitude until you reach the eastern summit, not mentioned on the map and quoted at 2452m. Continue along the line of the wide ridge that separates us from the main summit, following the evident path that goes up and down on the southern side with a few ups and downs until reaching the junction with path (7) coming from Col Valmeriana. Turn right and climb the last few metres of scree to finally reach the summit of Monte Barbeston (2483m, 4h00').
The return journey follows the same route as on the outward journey (3h00').