Netcha Trail

The track shares part of its route with that of the GR® NC1 (white and red marking). D Netcha reception desk (GPS: 690 330 – 7 541 313; alt. 244m): take the path which goes down in the basin towards the south. It then climbs gently towards the road (RM 10). However, a short distance before this, it veers to the left (towards the east) and joins the road further on (slippery ground in wet weather). 1 Road (GPS: 690 602 – 7 541 059; alt. 242m): cross and climb the foothills of red earth (slippery in rainy weather). There is a small change in the terrain. 2 Hillock (GPS: 690 647 – 7 540 988; alt. 267m) (lookout point over the river and the surrounding area): cross the saddle of red earth and resume the ascent. 3 Intersection (GPS: 690 596 – 7 540 871; alt. 284m): go straight ahead (the path, on the left, is the Agathis path that joins the Madeleine botanical reserve). The path continues its gentle ascent on the mountainside. It heads towards an old mining operation. 4 Anna-Madeleine Mine (GPS: 690 530 – 7 540 322; alt. 36m): (be careful, the promontory that served as the start of the funicular is unstable. Landslides sometimes occur): continue the climb north-west and reach a ridge (alt. 403m). The route continues west and follows the long rising ridge line. It crosses several shoulders and arrives at the highest point of the track (during the entire ascent of the ridge, you get beautiful views on the Plaine des Lacs). Head down the small saddle. 5 Fork (GPS: 688 364 – 7 540 154; alt. 544m): leave the GR® NC1 and turn right towards the north-west to follow the course of the small ridge for a while (beautiful views) to the landing zone for helicopters. 6 Helipad (GPS: 688 129 – 7 540 886; alt. 527m): the path then engages in several zigzags to descend towards the pass where it joins the route of the GR® NC1. 7 Pass (GPS: 688 444 – 7 541 339; alt. 381 m): turn right and follow the pleasant mule track which descends to the gently sloping plain. At the bottom of the slope, the path crosses a pine plantation and leads to the RM 10. 8 Road (GPS: 689 803 – 7 541 389; alt. 245m): cross and head slightly to the right to find the path on the other side. Return to starting point D. © Text by Jean Francis Clair FFrandonnée® grading * Effort: IBP 49 Fairly easy (light blue) * Technical difficulty: Fairly easy (light blue) * Risk: Fairly low (light blue) * Overall score: Fairly easy (light blue)