Description

This is a truly brilliant ride, on which you are highly unlikely to encounter anyone else.

Start from the top of the Combes chairlift (as shown here) or from the Casse de Boeuf chairlift, and ride to a fence from where a singletrack heads south.

The path is labelled with a small, red plastic sign for "Enduro des Crêtes" (the name of this ride) and is shown as route number 33.

These red signs with the name of the route or just the number 33 dot the whole adventure and are easy to spot from a distance. Head south on the singletrack (which is quite tricky to ride on as your uphill pedal keeps scuffing the hillside to your left) and follow it next to a fence.

The fence ends as the track begins to climb towards a nearby col.

A minute or so after the fence ends, head right on a non-existent trail and you will almost immediately see another trail and a red marker.

Get on the new trail and follow it as it undulates and then climbs across a couple of small bowls and transforms into a jeep track.

Some of the uphill on the trail is quite technical and all but the most skilled (and strong) of riders will likely need to get off and push for a few sections. Follow the jeep track through wild and barren mountain scenery past the top of the Clot Gauthier and Méa ski lifts and then on up to a broad col just to the east of the dramatic rock towers of the Roche Gauthier.

Some of the climb up to the col is brutally steep and those who are able to ride the whole way might consider entering the Tour de France next time it passes through Serre Chevalier! Turn left at the col and climb again until the track descends steeply to the Col de la Cucumelle, beneath the dramatic scree slopes of La Cucumelle peak.

Drop left at the col and descend a jeep track down to the top of the Eychauda chairlift, which has a gorgeous, turquoise lake next to it (the lake provides the Serre Chevalier snow cannons with water).

Carry on down the jeep track and just before it reaches the treeline, turn left and locate an easy-to-miss bit of singletrack.

Ride down this to the Le Flocon restaurant and the top station of the Bachas chairlift.

From the top of the chairlift descend east on a jeep track for 10 metres and then drop onto the "Le Monet" singletrack, which is well signposted and is also marked as route number 33.

The riding is absolutely spectacular, with constant interest but nothing truly difficult.

The metres just keep flowing and it's impossible not to smile for virtually the entire descent.

Sadly it does all end eventually when you hit a tarmac road, at which point you turn right and follow roads (or jeep tracks if you want to seek them out and put in some extra effort) back to Chantemerle.