2 days - 1 night around Grand'Hoche from Plampinet

6 h 30 · 1480 m → 1761 m

From the hamlet of Plampinet (1 480 m) in the commune of Névache, follow the dirt track (GR5 waymarking) leading towards the vallon des Chalets des Acles; do not go as far as the chalets but leave the track, taking the path that climbs to the left towards the col des Acles shortly after the Chapelle Saint-Roch (GR5B path). When you have almost reached the col (2 292 m), follow the wide track slightly higher up which, crossing the border, leads north-east to the col de la Mulattiera (2 412 m). From the col (not far from the large Second World War barracks), take path 705 heading down to the east and follow the signs for Refuge Rey, passing first near the Chapelle de la Santé (1 920 m), then the Chapelle Saint-Juste (1 820 m), and finally reaching Refuge Guido Rey (1 761 m).

5 h 30 · 1761 m → 1480 m

From Refuge Guido Rey (1 761 m), follow path 702 towards the Colle dell’Orso and the Blanchetti bivouac hut. At the end of the woods, the path turns left towards the Rocher de La Garde (2 222 m). From there, we follow the path which, with several hairpin bends and a few exposed traverses, leads to the magnificent Passo dell’Orso and the Blanchetti bivouac hut (2480m). From the bivouac hut, you can make a detour and climb to the summit of the Grand’Hoche (2760m) and that of the Aiguille d’Arbour (2 803 m) by following the red markings and the stone cairns near the ridge (descent by the same route as the ascent). From the col de l’Ours, head down the Ravin de Lauses to the fork for the col des Désertes: follow the path that descends and runs the whole length of the valley, passing the Chalets des Acles (1 870 m), to reach Plampinet (1 480 m).