Hiking - Tour de la Pointe de la Masse: Trekking in the Encombres Valley
A two-day hike on a balcony trail, amidst wild valleys and solitary passes. Along the way, discover some old alpine chalets and four beautiful high-altitude lakes, including the large Lac du Lou.
"It's a long journey that allows you to let your thoughts wander, to savour the diverse landscapes you pass through, and to observe this mountain environment with a perhaps slightly different perspective: multicoloured flowerbeds, large birds of the peaks, whistling marmots or mouflon colonies, who knows?" Céline Rutten, PNV Ranger-Monitor.
Day 1: From Les Bruyères Car Park, take the trail that rises in a balcony above the Plan de l'eau and follow it to the Lac du Lou refuge (approx. 1h). Just after the refuge, take the trail towards Grand Lac de Montfiot (approx. 2h), then Petit Lac de Montfiot. Reach Collet Blanc (approx. 1h), located at an altitude of 2670m, the highest point of the route, which allows you to descend into the Encombres Valley. Descend to Lac de la Montagnette (approx. 15min), then continue along the balcony trail across Le Grand Plan, to the Chalet du Fruit Commun (approx. 1h). The trail descends more steeply and crosses the Gros Mollard stream. Reach the Encombres road at Les Carriots (approx. 2h30), then the Gittamelon refuge.
Day 2: From the Gittamelon refuge, leave the goat farm on your left to ascend through the meadow along the trail. Shortly before Rocher Roux, fork right and pass under the power line. The trail climbs in switchbacks up to Lachat (approx. 1h). Cross the dirt track and continue straight ahead on the gently rising trail to Col de la Fenêtre (approx. 45min). Head towards the Geffriand valley (approx. 45 min) and reach Les Ménuires via the Yvôses valley, then the Lac du Lou refuge (approx. 3h), from where you descend to Les Bruyères car park.
"It's a long journey that allows you to let your thoughts wander, to savour the diverse landscapes you pass through, and to observe this mountain environment with a perhaps slightly different perspective: multicoloured flowerbeds, large birds of the peaks, whistling marmots or mouflon colonies, who knows?" Céline Rutten, PNV Ranger-Monitor.
Day 1: From Les Bruyères Car Park, take the trail that rises in a balcony above the Plan de l'eau and follow it to the Lac du Lou refuge (approx. 1h). Just after the refuge, take the trail towards Grand Lac de Montfiot (approx. 2h), then Petit Lac de Montfiot. Reach Collet Blanc (approx. 1h), located at an altitude of 2670m, the highest point of the route, which allows you to descend into the Encombres Valley. Descend to Lac de la Montagnette (approx. 15min), then continue along the balcony trail across Le Grand Plan, to the Chalet du Fruit Commun (approx. 1h). The trail descends more steeply and crosses the Gros Mollard stream. Reach the Encombres road at Les Carriots (approx. 2h30), then the Gittamelon refuge.
Day 2: From the Gittamelon refuge, leave the goat farm on your left to ascend through the meadow along the trail. Shortly before Rocher Roux, fork right and pass under the power line. The trail climbs in switchbacks up to Lachat (approx. 1h). Cross the dirt track and continue straight ahead on the gently rising trail to Col de la Fenêtre (approx. 45min). Head towards the Geffriand valley (approx. 45 min) and reach Les Ménuires via the Yvôses valley, then the Lac du Lou refuge (approx. 3h), from where you descend to Les Bruyères car park.