5 days (4 nights) - The winter route

Partial track: some stages have no GPS track.

1. D1
   Day 1

   Reaching Refuge de Terre Rouge

   1800 m → 2182 m

   From the 1800 ski resort, follow the Casses piste over the footbridge. Cross the Chaudanne piste and follow the route to the car park in La Chenalette. Then take the hiking trail by the Croix de la Portète. After the bridge over the Neuvache, follow the stream for 150 metres and head up towards the ruins and the birch tree wood. Follow Combe de Corniou as far as the chapel. Then drop down to the refuge.

   Night 1 · tonight's refuge

   Refuge Terre RougeBookable online

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

   See the refuge pageCall 09 88 18 79 03

2. D2
   Day 2

   Refuge de Terre Rouge to Vallée Etroite via Mont Thabor

   2182 m → 1760 m

   From the refuge: Follow the Neuvache to Col de la Chapelle (2,943 m), join the hiking trail from the Vallée Etroite and climb to the chapel and then the summit (3,178 m). Head down into Vallée Etroite until you reach the refuges (1,760 m).

   Night 2 · tonight's refuge

   Refuge I Re MagiWith the refuge

   See the refuge pageCall 00.39.349.611.29.20

   Refuge Terzo AlpiniWith the refuge

   See the refuge pageCall +33651200518

3. D3
   Day 3

   From Vallée Etroite to Refuge Ricou via Pic Blanc

   1760 m → 2990 m

   From Granges de la Vallée Etroite, head up the “Narrow Valley” as far as Pont de la Fonderie (1,920 m). Pass around Tête du Chien heading north, and then south to join Col du Vallon (2,645 m, +880 m). Drop down 100 metres into the little valley of Vallon, then put on your skins and head south-west to Lac Blanc du Vallon. Take a little rest before climbing to Pas du Lac Blanc (2,970 m) and for the bravest, make a little tour up to Pic Blanc (2,990 m), then head down to the refuge via Lac Serpent and Lac Laramon.

   Night 3 · 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

4. D4
   Day 4

   Refuge Ricou to the refuges of Haute Clarée

   2115 m → 3002 m

   From Refuge Ricou (2,115 m), walk up the south-facing slope to Col de la Grande Tempête (or Crête des Muandes) (2,865 m, +750 m). Here you have the option to climb to the peak of Grande Tempête (3,002 m, +900 m)) and then down the west-facing slope to reach Refuge des Drayères (2,180 m, -685 m). Evening and overnight stay at Refuge des Drayères.

   Night 4 · 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

5. D5
   Day 5

   From Haute Clarée to Valmeinier via Col de Névache

   2180 m → 2794 m

   Col de Névache (2,794 m) down to Valmeinier via Les Barmettes, Notre Dame des Neiges and Combe de Corniou, then along the left bank of the stream to reach Valmeinier. A second night’s stay at Refuge de Terre Rouge.

   Arrival · end of the tour

   No night to book that evening.