Lac Lavoir - Laval car park via the Pic du Lac Blanc

(S) After packing up your tent for the last time, set off along the same path as the day before and quickly leave it to head south, climbing up a small valley alongside the Rochers du Tru on your right. After a 60-metre climb^, you will reach a place called Le Clot Sauvage^, where you will find the^{GRP® trail} on a beautiful lawn with marmots^.

(1) Continue the well-marked climb through a scree slope to the Col du Vallon.

(2) After a break at the viewpoint at the pass, leave it heading west on a fairly well-marked path; this is the start of an off-trail route to Pic du Lac Blanc. You will see an unnamed pass in front of you, which you must reach via a short steep climb over scree. You will now see Lac Blanc below you. Continue on, keeping it on your left, and stay at roughly the same altitude. Cross a passage of large boulders before beginning a steep climb westwards, which will take you to a small pass between the Pic du Lac Blanc and Rocher Blanc ridges, from where you will have a bird's eye view of Lac Lavoir.

(3) A few more metres of elevation gain and effort are required to reach the ridge of Pic du Lac Blanc. Once on the ridge, head south to reach the summit of Pic du Lac Blanc.

(4) Descend directly to the Gardioles lakes (still off the marked trail) by taking the slope in a south-south-westerly direction (do not follow the ridge line to the south-east). Once you reach the first Gardioles lake, head towards the small promontory to the north-west of the second lake and then head south. Descend towards the third Gardioles lake and walk along it on your left. You will descend a small valley and come to the Ruisseau des Gardioles stream.

(5) You will need to cross it to rejoin the marked trail upstream of Lac du Serpent.

(6) Walk along this first large lake, pass the ruins before turning towards Lac Laramon.

(7) After a short stroll along the lake, go to the weir and take the path on the right (do not cross the stream).

(8) At the next crossroads (La Replate), do not continue down towards the Ricou Refuge but take the first path (level) on the right for a balcony route that will take you gently northwards to the Cula valley with a very pretty view of the Clarée Valley and the Cerces Massif.

(9) After crossing the Torrent de la Cula, turn west before beginning a long descent along winding paths (generally south-west) to return to the Laval car park (E).

The last shuttle bus back down to Névache leaves at 7pm.
If the weather is too bad or you are too tired, you can cross the Col du Vallon and descend the Vallon du Vallon to the village of Névache, then take the shuttle bus to the Laval car park.