The Cabane de Tante Yvonne (Aunt Yvonne's cabin!)

This is a walk where you'll find shelter right in the heart of mountain pastures and where you can enjoy a friendly meal ... in very pleasant surroundings.

Details

n°214094

Creation:
23 Feb 2016

Last update:
18 Jan 2024

Last review:
14 May 2024

Activity: Snowshoeing
Distance: 8.06 km
Duration according to the author: 5 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 553 m
Descent: - 554 m
Highest point: 1,887 m
Lowest point: 1,339 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Champsaur, Dauphiné
District: Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (05260)
Start/End: N 44.674977° / E 6.269185°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3437OT, 3437OTR
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Description of the walk

Access : Coming from Pont-du-Fossé turn right on the Route de Serre-Eyrauds and then along the Route du Clot Davin at the first junction. Park before the turning area.

(S/E) Take the wide trail that begins going fully east. Ignore the trail on the right at the first intersection and continue straight on for a good climb. Reach a short pasture and then go back through forest and, after a few turns, you'll get to the GR50 crossroads.

(1) Turn right on the wide GR trail.
After a short climb, walk along the contour path until you reach an intersection where the right-hand the trail is blocked by a red and white cross.

(2) Continue on the GR, starting a short climb that leads to mountain pasture, keep going and get to the Cabane de Tante Yvonne.

(3) Go west and then north to get to viewing point overlooking the Drac valley.

(4) Go back on the same path to return to the cabin(3) then (2).

(2) Turn left on the path blocked by the red and white cross to reach the wide trail on the right-hand side of the Ravin des Péllissier.
Then continue to descend on the well-marked trail and reach the Ravin des Ricoux.

(5) Cross it and continue quietly on the trail to reach Clot Davin and the car park(S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,373 m - Clot Davin
1 : km 1.02 - alt. 1,615 m - GR50 crossroads
2 : km 2.96 - alt. 1,739 m - GR crossroads Return path
3 : km 3.65 - alt. 1,809 m - Aunt Yvonne's cabin
4 : km 4.18 - alt. 1,887 m - Belvedere
5 : km 6.87 - alt. 1,493 m - Ravin des Ricoux
S/E : km 8.06 - alt. 1,372 m - Clot Davin

Notes

In winter, take a pair of snowshoes and warm clothing.
Shelter at the Cabane de Tante Yvonne
It's an open cabin with a table, benches and stove. This cabin is open to everyone and was a gift from Madam Yvonne Rostaing (1917 - 2007) to the commune of Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas.
Of course, this hike can also be done in summer ... but on foot.

Worth a visit

The Drac valleys (Noir and Blanc), come together just upstream of the Serre-Eyraud intersection.
Orcières Merlette in the big resort of Champsaur.
The more modest resorts of Saint-Léger-les Mélèzes and Ancelle.
The village of Pont-du-Fossé and its various activities.
Gîte/cottage accommodation in Pont-du-Fossé.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5

Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

helene.bernaldez

14 May 2024 at 08:43 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We followed the signs from Clos Davin, a well-marked path leading uphill, but then we had the impression that we weren't following a well-frequented area. Fallen trees to climb over or around
Aunt Yvonne's hut, a very soothing landscape
We climbed up to the lookout point and back, for a nice loop back to Clos Davin.
Nice walk overall, with beautiful scenery

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Jean Marc1

05 Sep 2022 at 10:41 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Interesting walk with a fine view of the Drac at the end. Well worth doing.

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Laurence et Massi

11 Jan 2021 at 11:55 3600

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An absolutely magnificent snowshoe walk.

As it had snowed heavily, we saw little or no signposting, so we relied on the GPS points.
The climb is steep but well worth it!

Aunt Yvonne's hut is very, very nice (it has a wooden table, a bunk bed, pots and pans, a card game and a broom) and we even had a little fire in the stove before setting off again in the snow!

Unfortunately we didn't find the lookout but it was a really great walk <3!!!

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grandin

15 Jul 2020 at 19:25 7200

Thanks for your opinion, MJJG. This is indeed a snowshoe hike. If there's no snow, the trails may not exist at all.

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MJJG

13 Jul 2020 at 15:42 7200

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Hello,

We weren't able to do this hike because there is no starting point from Clot Davin !!!!
Even if you use the GPS coordinates given in the description of the hike, there is no trail.
Perhaps this trail exists in winter?

We did, however, hike to La Cabane de Tante Yvonne from Serre-Eyraud, at the ski lift ticket office car park (N 44° 40.626' - E 6° 16.534) towards Le Mourinou.
Return distance: 11.4 km - Ascent: 456 m - Descent: 461 m - Minimum altitude: 1462 m - Maximum: 1878 m.

Hike to the Belvedere of the Croix de Combeau or Croix de Vire.

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Dorydee

17 Mar 2020 at 18:45 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pretty and varied loop, not always easy to find on the ground (especially the first part after the wide south-east path before joining the GR where you cross a lot of paths, the return via the combes having been marked with green dots on the trees). There's not much snow left until we reach the GR, but we still need snowshoes when we get to the mountain pasture!

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visionrandonnées

17 Feb 2020 at 18:07 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant snowshoe hike, a beautiful day and, above all, magnificent mountain pastures under a thick layer of immaculate snow all around the hut.
Thank you, Yvonne!

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Philippe Pertuis

18 Feb 2019 at 08:46 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's not an easy route to find as there are a lot of tracks and markings.
but in the end, as the route is fairly short, it's easy to get there.
The mountain pastures around the hut are superb.

On the way back down, it's the same as on the way up: you cut back a little at a glance and arrive at the return trail.

Very nice snowshoe hike. We never felt exposed to avalanche risks (this opinion is mine alone :whistle.

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rplg83

28 Jan 2019 at 09:36 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk

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fred83

28 Dec 2018 at 17:16 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice hike which corresponds well to the description but the departure is preferable from the small resort of serreyraud
sincerely

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bernardino

26 Feb 2018 at 08:18 3600

Hello to all the RVers who have hiked this route and given their opinion.
There were a lot of questions about the route and the starting point.
First of all, the start is at the turnaround, which you have to reach by parking your vehicle well in advance. The best place to park is in the wide square to the right of the last hairpin bend.
To get there, follow the wide path heading south-east which, after a steep climb, joins the GR.
To return via the Pellissier valley, you need to be very careful to take the left-hand descent into the valley at the path marked with a red and white cross, indicating that this is where you leave the GR in summer. In winter, the guides from the neighbouring resorts take tourists up here almost every day, either on the way up or on the way back.
I would also add that, unlike the dedicated snowshoe trails on the edge of the resorts, this outing does not have the typical winter signposting.
I'd like to finish by pointing out that carolus43's comment

If in doubt, it's better to return the way you came.

is absolutely right when you're in any doubt about the route (this comment applies to any outing).
Have a nice day!

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carolus43

25 Feb 2018 at 21:37 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely hike we did with our 11-year-old son, wild and alone in the middle of the snowy immensity, just the way we like it.
The return route is not easy to find, so we followed tracks in the snow hoping they were the right ones and we were lucky they were. If in doubt, it's best to return via the outward route.

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