Haute Clarée tour by its lakes (Hautes-Alpes)

Description

Go for this five-day trekking tour to discover the Upper Clarée valley in the Hautes-Alpes, favoring wild routes off the beaten track.

From refuge to refuge we will visit all the most beautiful sites of Clarée by hiking without difficulty and avoiding the crowds of too classic routes. Lakes with crystal clear water, hanging pastures, rocky peaks with imposing cliffs and passes with panoramic views, all the magic of Haute Clarée accessible to all!

The huts were chosen for their welcome and their food, as well as their beautiful terraces to have a drink at the end of the day!

If you wish to hike on other itineraries in the southern Alps, I also propose throughout the summer :

• a trek between Ubaye and Val Maïra,
• a discovery of the wild Dévoluy,
• the haute route of the southern Écrins.

Program

D1: The walkway and Ricou refuge.
From the upper town, this first stage will take you to the Ricou alpine pasture via the old military road that runs along the left bank of the Clarée to the Ricou refuge. Over the hours the view opens and it is all the upper valley that appears, its different valleys and summits and our itinerary for the week.
Night at Ricou refuge.
Positive altitude difference: 500 meters, negative altitude difference: 200 meters.

D2: Serpent, Laramont and Gardioles lakes.
Above the refuge of Ricou nestle two beautiful lakes. The view of the high peaks of Cerces and the glaciers of Écrins just behind is one of the must of Clarée! On the descent we will make a detour off the beaten track of the high pastures of the Gardiole before joining the valley and the refuge of Laval. Great spaces and grandiose panoramas are on the program!
Night at Laval refuge where we will find our backpacks again.
D+: 560m, D-: 700m.

D3: Béraudes Lake and balconies of Chardonnet.
It is certainly one of the most beautiful lake of the Clarée! Nestled in the heart of colorful scree the lake is an amazing blue that varies with the light. Then it's adventure! A long and easy crossing without trail and very wild will bring you to the valley of Chardonnet and its nice refuge! You will have a good chance to cross animals...
Overnight at Chardonnet refuge.
D+: 500m, D-: 250m.

D4: Col du Chardonnet and Casse Blanche lakes.
This uncrowded route will take you to the Casse Blanche lakes in the heart of an ancient glacial cirque surrounded by high colored cliffs. We will walk through this kingdom of minerals in an impressive atmosphere and cross to the Chardonnet pass and its old graphite mines. Extraordinary view of the highest peaks of the Écrins: Pelvoux (3946m), Barre des Écrins (4102m), Agneaux (3664m)...
Overnight at Chardonnet refuge.
D+: 450m, D-: 450m.

D5: Balconies of Baude.
To end the week in style we will take a last wild balcony above the valley. At the edge of the forest we walk, alone, on a bucolic setting that contrasts with the large scree above. An impressive and grandiose atmosphere for a day that will remain etched in your memories!
D+: 200m, D-: 700m.

Discovery level: you do not necessarily have experience in hiking or mountain but have a physical fitness and want an easy stay to enjoy the mountain. Hiking days from 4 to 5 hours of walking per day with 550 meters of altitude difference on average. The pace is quiet but continuous and good breaks are planned during the day. The routes are on good mountain trails or off trails without difficulty. If the stay is itinerant you must be able to carry a backpack of about 7kg.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain leader.
• Accommodation and reservation in lodge and mountain hut, full board (picnic lunch).
• Bearing of meals and overnight stays of the mountain leader.

The price does not include

• Snacks.
• Personal expenses: drinks, aperitif, etc.
• Liability, repatriation and cancellation insurance.
• Transport to and from the meeting place.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

• Accommodation in mountain huts.
• Comfortable dorms, duvet provided. Hot showers.
• Meals cooked by local product-based shelters, often organic, good and hearty. Picnic for lunch.

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