GR® NORD Stage n°3 : From the tribe of Saint Thomas to the tribe of Pwöbèi (Pombéï)

D Accommodation site (GPS: 524 811 – 7 682 910; alt. 29m): go up the right bank of the river, towards the SW to reach the meeting point with the previous stage.

1 Fork towards Câba (Tchamba) (GPS: 523 784 – 7 681 769; alt. 22m): continue, in the same direction, on the right track until the change of direction.

2 Intersection (GPS: 523 410 – 7 681 376; alt. 28m) leave the main grassy track and turn to the right to walk towards the north. Turn to the right, towards the Amoa river (> be careful, the crossing is dangerous, sometimes impossible, in rainy weather). Cross the river, then climb the embankment. Enter the tribe of Sainte-Thérèse.

3 Intersection (GPS: 523 486 − 7 681 757; alt. 32m): head left.

4 Intersection (GPS: 523 486 − 7 681 757; alt. 32m): head left. Descend towards the west following the road and cross the large concrete apron.

5 Fork (GPS: 523 400 − 7 681 836; alt. 27m): shortly after crossing the river, take the small track that goes right towards the west, then towards the NW. Pass a house located on the right side of the path. At the level of the second house, at the fork, turn left [the track that goes to the right runs along the Tipwatéi river]. The track rises slowly up the northern flank of Pwêrè Ilö. It joins a concrete cistern located on the right.

6 cistern (GPS: 522 288 − 7 682 327; alt. 103m): continue on the track towards the NW for about 1.8 km to reach a small open area.

7 Beginning of track (GPS: 521 366 − 7 683 230; alt. 120m): climb the embankment on the left of the track, at the entrance to the forest, and climb slowly towards the small pass to the west of Pwêrè Ilö (alt. 271m). Set foot on the ridge that runs west [the shaded sections, primary forest or niaoulis, alternate with the open parts]. Follow it while staying on the track.

8 Black Stone (GPS: 520 960 − 7 682 994; alt. 278m): the ridge and the path slope towards the NW. Continue on the path, climbing in stages, to the maintenance workers' camp located in the niaoulis, to the east of Görö Atê Mékébô (alt. 728m).

9 Camp site (GPS: 520 122 − 7 684 635; alt. 388m): abandon the ridge and descend into a wooded thalweg (water). Cross a small secondary ridge and continue to descend into a second, deeper thalweg (water). New descent before going up to a plateau [open view]. Descend uncovered towards a large wooded thalweg, cross the creek (water) and come out on the rounded ridge oriented NNW towards the small summit of Pwöpubwéné (alt. 418m). The path gradually becomes airier and undulates on the edge of a sometimes steep ridge. Continue towards the north [a place called “Tuba”] to reach a small hillock to the west of Pwöpunin Tub.

10 Hillock (GPS: 519 455 − 7 688 234; alt. 452m): from this point, which dominates the valley, begin the descent towards the tribe of Pwöbèi (Pombéï) along a long descending and clear ridge, oriented W, then NNW [many lookout points over the surroundings, in particular on the Tshingou massif, over the characteristic peaks of Katalupaik and Tonine...]. Reach Juèlè Pwêhêbwèlè (alt. 226m). The ridge then curves NW. Follow it to reach a small stream at the foot of the hillside.

11 Creek (GPS: 518 512 – 7 690 020; alt. 29m): cross it to come out on a grassy track which follows the level curve towards the west.

12 Intersection (GPS: 518 512 - 7 690 020; alt. 29m): continue straight ahead.

13 Shelter-hut (GPS: 518 053 – 7 690 217; alt. 20m): descend towards the river heading north, then turn due east, to cross the stream at the shallowest point [ford] (> be careful, the crossing is very dangerous in the event of heavy rain. Do not hesitate to give up and wait in the shelter-refuge). Follow the left bank of the river for a few hundred meters, then veer towards the north to rejoin the road by crossing the fields on a track open to vehicles. Turn right to the east and follow the road (RPN 2) for about 700m, to reach the accommodation site of Pwöbèi (Pombéï) 14 (GPS: 518 724 – 7 690 215; alt. 20m).

© Textes J.F. Clair

FFRandonnée grading
* Effort IBP 85 4 Quite difficult (red)
* Technicality 4 Quite difficult (red)
* Risk 2 Quite low (blue)
* Overall rating 4 Quite difficult (red)

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