Once again I failed to reach the famous waterfalls Cascade de Fraches on this trail. It’s too hard! I started off at Balise 266 next to the Notre Dame des Fontaines in La Brigue. True I started late (a little after noon) but the trail mounted steeply through schist. It was a beautiful spring day though with everything in bloom.

It took me a good 1h 45min to get to this point:

I was huffing and puffing because the rise was steep and relentless. The trail was in good shape though and well-groomed. No flies but plenty of butterflies and lizards. There were few places to rest and the climb was mostly in the sun but with patches of shade. Those are snow-capped mountains in the distance. This was the highest point at about 1336 or maybe 400m denivilé.This was the first point where it was comfortable to stretch out and munch a sandwich. Whew.

After this the trail descended gently and after about 20 minutes or so I could at least hear the waterfalls in the distance. And then I could see them from a distance.

Yes that little crack in the center is a distant stream. Soon after this I turned back. The descent was tricky because of the rocks. Nice views though.

In all, I reached bottom in about four hours. I think that starting earlier it would actually be possible to reach the falls as the trail to them is long but descends gently.