Loop on the left bank of the Doron de Champagny via La Sauvire

Park or access the car park opposite the Refuge du Bois in Champagny le Haut.

(S/E) Cross the bridge over the Doron de Champagny. At the end of the bridge, turn right onto the road running alongside the Doron. After 100 m, turn left onto the path that climbs into the forest, following the sign for Refuge du Plan des Gouilles. Follow the signs for Refuge du Plan des Gouilles at the^first fork, continuing straight ahead. You will reach a^second fork.

(1) Turn left towards Refuge du Plan des Gouilles. Follow the same direction to reach the refuge.

(2) Take the path that climbs to the left of the refuge, following the sign for Sauvire, Grand Bec written on a flat stone. Reach the summit of Côtes Vertes.

(3) At the foot of the moraine, take the path on the left that climbs up the side of the moraine. A blue S arrow indicates this path (S for Sauvire). You will find another blue S arrow at the bottom of the gully at the exit of the Becca-Motta dead glacier. Follow it and take the path that climbs up to the left on the moraine, on the right bank of the gully. At the top of the moraine, turn left, following the path, cairns and blue markings, so as to pass to the left of the Becquetta and reach the grassy terrace of the Sauvire. Follow the path, cairns and blue markings, aiming for the low point of the pass (there is no need to go to the high point of the Sauvire).

(4) Descend the path, winding between the cliffs of La Sauvire on the left and the boundaries of the Vanoise National Park on the right. Note: the park boundary, marked by tricolour markers, follows the Darbesset stream descending from the Troquairou glacier. You will reach a fork.

(5) Turn left, north-east, to continue down the well-marked path, passing through a corridor, then the Plan du Pré and finally the forest, arriving at the Refuge du Laisonnay

(6) Follow the track to Laisonnay d'en bas, cross the stream and take the path that runs along the left bank of the stream. You will arrive at the hamlet of Friburge.

(7) Cross the stream to end up on the right bank and reach the car park opposite the Refuge du Bois (S/E).

It is recommended that you stay overnight at the Refuge du Plan des Gouilles (booking required) to break up this long and wild hike, setting off in the afternoon.
There are no technical difficulties, but the route is for experienced hikers. It includes scree passages that can be followed thanks to cairns and blue markings. At the beginning of the season, the persistent and steep snowfields below Becquetta can obscure the trail and require hiking crampons: check with the warden at the Refuge du Plan des Gouilles.

(4) Superb view from La Sauvire over the chain of glaciers and rocky faces on the north side of the Grand Bec-Grande Motte axis, with the Grande Casse and the long wall of L'Épéna in particular.

Chamois and ibex are numerous on this slope: stay together and be discreet.