Hiking - 4-Day Vallouise Refuge Tour
4 days, 3 refuges, and the largest glacier in the Ecrins, all in a unique high-mountain atmosphere. What better way to discover or rediscover the Vallouise and its refuges?
Le Sélé, le Pelvoux, Le Glacier Blanc... three stone vessels moored to the mountain, anchored at the foot of the legendary faces of the Ecrins: Ailefroide, Pelvoux, Barre des Ecrins, and more. By stopping over, hikers discover the pure and harsh world of the high mountains, its rhythms, its constraints, and its landscapes!
This tour is the same as the 5-day version, but with one less stage (at Ailefroide).
The Vallouise Refuge Tour is therefore offered here in 4 stages.
The hamlet of Ailefroide, the starting point, comes to life in the summer when it welcomes climbers, sightseers, and hikers. It is located at the junction of the wild and steep-sided Celse Nière valley, whose left bank is dominated by the Pelvoux Massif, and the Torrent de St-Pierre valley, which leads to Pré de Mme Carle.
The first stage of this journey leads to the Sélé refuge, situated on a glacial valley bar overlooking the valley and at the foot of the southern slopes of Ailefroide (3950 m) and Pic Sans Nom (3913 m). After a false flat and several switchbacks, the trail reaches the "barre du Sélé," which is negotiated via a steep, cable-equipped path.
Stage 2 involves retracing your steps to the junction with the trail to the Pelvoux refuge. The refuge only comes into view at the last moment. From the promontory in front of the refuge, you can enjoy the very welcome late-day sun.
The next day, return to Ailefroide via the ascent route and head directly for Pré de Mme Carle, following the right bank of the Torrent de St Pierre. A change of valley, a change of scenery. The trail then climbs steeply above the plain. Around a bend, the Glacier Blanc comes into view. You will still need to negotiate several short, cabled rocky steps before reaching the refuge. From the terrace of polished granite, you can never tire of the surrounding landscape and the views of the north faces of the peaks overlooking the Glacier Noir: Pelvoux, Pic sans Nom, Ailefroide and so many others.
On the last day, you return to the starting point: Ailefroide.
Steep, cabled sections of the trail are exposed and can be slippery in wet weather, particularly on the climb to Sélé. The trail is often rocky.
This is a high-altitude route; check the access conditions for the refuges and the weather forecast before setting out.
Booking is mandatory if you wish to stay overnight in the refuges.
Le Sélé, le Pelvoux, Le Glacier Blanc... three stone vessels moored to the mountain, anchored at the foot of the legendary faces of the Ecrins: Ailefroide, Pelvoux, Barre des Ecrins, and more. By stopping over, hikers discover the pure and harsh world of the high mountains, its rhythms, its constraints, and its landscapes!
This tour is the same as the 5-day version, but with one less stage (at Ailefroide).
The Vallouise Refuge Tour is therefore offered here in 4 stages.
The hamlet of Ailefroide, the starting point, comes to life in the summer when it welcomes climbers, sightseers, and hikers. It is located at the junction of the wild and steep-sided Celse Nière valley, whose left bank is dominated by the Pelvoux Massif, and the Torrent de St-Pierre valley, which leads to Pré de Mme Carle.
The first stage of this journey leads to the Sélé refuge, situated on a glacial valley bar overlooking the valley and at the foot of the southern slopes of Ailefroide (3950 m) and Pic Sans Nom (3913 m). After a false flat and several switchbacks, the trail reaches the "barre du Sélé," which is negotiated via a steep, cable-equipped path.
Stage 2 involves retracing your steps to the junction with the trail to the Pelvoux refuge. The refuge only comes into view at the last moment. From the promontory in front of the refuge, you can enjoy the very welcome late-day sun.
The next day, return to Ailefroide via the ascent route and head directly for Pré de Mme Carle, following the right bank of the Torrent de St Pierre. A change of valley, a change of scenery. The trail then climbs steeply above the plain. Around a bend, the Glacier Blanc comes into view. You will still need to negotiate several short, cabled rocky steps before reaching the refuge. From the terrace of polished granite, you can never tire of the surrounding landscape and the views of the north faces of the peaks overlooking the Glacier Noir: Pelvoux, Pic sans Nom, Ailefroide and so many others.
On the last day, you return to the starting point: Ailefroide.
Steep, cabled sections of the trail are exposed and can be slippery in wet weather, particularly on the climb to Sélé. The trail is often rocky.
This is a high-altitude route; check the access conditions for the refuges and the weather forecast before setting out.
Booking is mandatory if you wish to stay overnight in the refuges.