09-08-2013
Mont Aigoual
in the Parc National Des Cevennes appears to be a very popular destination for
a drive. It is topped by a Meteo meteorological station (and exhibition centre)
and an IGN trig hidden in a round circle of stones – and the large car park was
full.  |
| The IGN trig hides the true summit behind |
However, for the thousands who must visit daily in the summer – or ski
there in the winter – I suspect that only a small handful bother to visit the
true summit about 1.6km away.
1.20km, 105m
ascent
For the true
summit, even the marked path that starts at the roadside at (1521m) N44.12332
E3.57020 traverses rather than visits it – this is the only access from the
west that does not involve getting over a barbed wire fence and ignoring signs
about it being a tranquillity zone. 
However, there is a fainter path that
follows the fence line to the summit marked by a small communications mast that
looks a bit like a sailing boat. The view was far and wide, but there was not a
lot to see, really.
2.31km, 160m
total ascent
Overnight at
Camping La Cascade, Meyrueis (743m – lowest I have slept for a long while)
10-08-2013
Mont
Lozere/Sommit de Finials is also in the Parc National des Cevennes – a Major,
1699m high and P649 at N44.42609 E3.73911. 
There is a
paved road up to the Col de Finiels which has plentiful parking space (1541m)
N44.42428 E3.76858. 
There is a choice of walks from the col shown on a
signboard – and they are all quite obvious on the ground. I ‘ascended’ the
piste on the left which goes through pine trees before coming out on
meadows/ski country nearer the tops. 
The
highest top is obvious and has a direct path to where it is marked by a cairn
and stone shelter – there was a view all round of lesser hills.
For the
descent, I wandered over some intervening tops before finding an alternative
path back to the start.
5.95km, 388m
total ascent
Overnight at
Aire de Stationnement Camping cars, Pardines (486m – getting even lower)
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