A "rural" climb to the mountain pastures of the upper valley of the Lavey. The refuge is a witness to past pastoral life. Rich fauna in the area: flocks of sheep, but also chamois, marmots, foxes and birds. After a "rural" climb, you arrive on the mountain pastures of the upper valley of the Lavey. The refuge appears as a witness to a past pastoral life. Today the mountain pasture is inhabited by two flocks of sheep, but you can also observe chamois, marmots, foxes and birds around the refuge. TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Start: Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans (Champhorent) - Elevation gain: 400 m - Round-trip time: 2h30 one way, 1h15 return - Distance: 9.4 km - Technical and physical level: easy - MAP AND TOPO - OBP n° 5 (Oisans au Bout des Pieds) trail 531 - IGN TOP 25 n°3336 AND - YOU HIKE IN THE HEART OF THE ECRINS NATIONAL PARK - The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, Open to all, whose natural, cultural and landscape heritage is rare. To protect these riches, the heart of the park is marked by blue-white-red painted flags, where regulations must be respected. Please read them when preparing your hike in order to preserve this collective asset on the ecrins-parcnational.fr site. DIRECTIONS - The car park is located at the entrance to the hamlet of Champhorent (3 km after Saint Christophe en Oisans), below the road. Take the path at the end of the car park to first descend to the Vénéon torrent and its magnificent Pont des Rajas. Cross the pretty stone bridge and climb towards the houses of the Rajas. Continue uphill to enter the Vallon de la Muande and follow the torrent on the right bank and then on the left bank after a second stone bridge. At the shepherd's hut, cross gently sloping slabs to access the refuge hidden behind this small glacial lock. It is possible to return via the hamlet of Le Souchet (OBP n° 5 - trail 566). THE PARC DES ECRINS, A FRAGILE NATURE TO PROTECT - When hiking in the Parc des Ecrins you must respect the regulations that allow you to enjoy this exceptional natural area: do not leave the trails, dogs are forbidden even on a leash, no picking flowers, no taking of fossils, minerals, animals..., do not throw anything on the ground (bring your own rubbish). Nature thanks you! PLEASE KNOW - The refuge is guarded from mid-June to mid-September and offers snacks during the day. - It is possible to go back down via the Lac des Fétoules indicated from the refuge. - The refuge allows you to hike over several days: you can discover the Lac des Bêches (2 hours) and the Lac des Rouies (4 hours) from the refuge. - You are in the Écrins National Park, respect the regulations: do not go off the paths, no picking, no fires... For the respect of wildlife, dogs are forbidden (even on a leash).
Les Deux Alpes
