Grand Bérard

From La Condamine-Châtelard in the Ubaye, take the D29 towards Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine and turn right at Les Pras to the Chapelle Sainte-Anne (1,752 m), where the tarmac ends. A good dirt track (part of the old Parpaillon military road) continues to the Pont du Bérard (about 1,840 m) and higher hairpins (1,930 m) and can be driven, saving up to 4 km round trip. From the Pont du Bérard take the path climbing left into the Vallon du Bérard (green or yellow marks), past a small shelter at almost 2,400 m, then up steep grassy slopes to the Pas du Reverdillon (2,825 m) between the Grand Bérard and La Chalanche, about 2¾–3 hours from the chapel. From the pass turn right (north) onto the summit pyramid. There are no paint marks above here, only cairns, and good route-finding is needed: the line keeps slightly below the south ridge on the west flank. Cross scree and big boulders, then an exposed ledge (the 'balcony'), climb natural rock steps using the hands, follow a second ledge to a 2 m chimney just below the summit ridge, and walk the ridge to the large geodetic signal on the summit (about 1 hour from the pass). Altituderando describes the pyramid as three steps: the first turned on the left, the second taken direct, the third by a rising traverse left. Descend the same way to the pass with care on the poor rock, then either return down the Vallon du Bérard or make a loop down the Vallon du Parpaillon on the GR 6 (leaving it at about 2,530 m on the way up if doing the loop the other way) and back along the track. A section of path in the Bérard forest was damaged by a slide around 2014 and in 2020 a collapsed scree section required crossing a steep snow patch; in 2025 it was still unrepaired but well trodden. Livestock guardian dogs may be met in the Parpaillon valley.