5 days (4 nights): Off-piste ski touring, starting from Névache

Partial track: some stages have no GPS track.

1. D1
   Day 1

   Day 1: Névache to Refuge Buffère

   From the Névache (Ville Haute) car park, follow the snow-covered road for 2 km, heading towards Haute Vallée de la Clarée. After passing Chapelle Bon Secours and then Chapelle St Barbe, about 100 metres further on, turn left (heading south) towards Pont du Rately, where you will cross the river Clarée There is a steep ascent through a beautiful larch tree forest to get to the hamlet of Le Serre, where you can enjoy wonderful views of the valley and the village of Névache. It will then take you just 15 minutes to reach Refuge Buffère (2 hrs). Climb up to Crête de l'Echaillon at Col du Milieu and follow the ridge due north. Then take the "crazy slope" descent to reach Refuge Buffère. This makes a great start for your tour. (2hrs 30).

   Important to note: Never use the summer route running along the right bank of the river Clarée between Ville Haute and Pont du Rately, as there is a strong risk of avalanches.

   Night 1 · tonight's refuge

   Refuge BuffèreBookable online

   Bookable online, one night at a time, from its page. See its places

   See the refuge pageCall 06 60 50 58 15

2. D2
   Day 2

   Day 2: Refuge Buffère to Refuge du Chardonnet

   Follow Vallon de Buffère up to Col de Buffère (2,427 m), then join Vallon de la Moulette, skirting around Tête Noire. Climb up to an altitude of 2,412 m and follow the small sunken valley due east and then head due north to reach the summit of Grande Manche (2 823 m). Descend Grande Manche to reach Refuge du Chardonnet (2,287 m), (5hrs).

   Night 2 · tonight's refuge

   Refuge du ChardonnetWith the refuge

   See the refuge pageCall +33 (0)6 20 06 63 10

3. D3
   Day 3

   Day 3: Refuge du Chardonnet to Refuge Laval or Refuge des Drayères

   Join Crête du Queyrellin, and then Tête de la Cassille (3,069 m) and Combe du Lac Rouge. You will then reach the Chalets de Laval and Refuge Laval (5 hrs) or climb back up to head over to Refuge des Drayères (6 hrs).

   Night 3 · tonight's refuge

   Refuge des DrayèresWith the refuge

   See the refuge pageCall 09 82 12 53 08

   Refuge LavalWith the refuge

   See the refuge pageCall 07 86 62 60 97

4. D4
   Day 4

   Day 4: Refuge Laval or Refuge des Drayères to Refuge Ricou

   - From Refuge Laval, walk up along the right bank of La Cula stream, join Vallon de la Cula and climb Rocher de la Grande Tempête (3,002 m). - From Refuge des Drayères, walk up Vallon des Muandes to reach Grande Tempête on the south/west facing slope. From the top of Rocher de la Grande Tempête, drop down to reach Refuge Ricou (4 hrs 30)

   Night 4 · tonight's refuge

   Refuge de RicouBookable online

   Bookable online, one night at a time, from its page. See its places

   See the refuge pageCall 04 92 21 17 04

5. D5
   Day 5

   Day 5: Refuge Ricou to Névache

   Climb Pic du Lac Blanc (2,989 m). Then, from Col du Grand Cros, head down to Vallon to return to Névache, Ville Haute (1,600 m), (4 hrs 30).

   Arrival · end of the tour

   No night to book that evening.