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Head to the Chalet-Hôtel du Giobernay at the far end of the Valgaudemar Valley (access restrictions: see Practical Information).
Park in the upper car park, around the chalet-hotel.
(S/E) From the car park, head towards the clearly visible information boards. Follow the path signposted ‘Refuge du Pigeonnier’. Shortly afterwards, at the fork, take the left-hand branch.
(1) About 200m further up, continue to the right towards Refuge du Pigeonnier. A little further on, the path runs alongside the stream for a while before veering left to begin the winding ascent. When the path levels out slightly, it comes to a junction.
(2) Continue straight on towards the Refuge du Pigeonnier (ignore the path on the left towards Lac Lauzon). Very soon, cross the stream and turn sharply left onto a narrow track (ignore the track on the right, which no longer has a footbridge to cross the other arm of the stream). A little further up, cross the footbridge and descend via a short steep section which rejoins the path you left earlier.
Pass another footbridge and resume the climb towards the refuge. Halfway up, a new, less steep section of path has been created (discrepancy on the map). Reach a junction at the Refuge du Pigeonnier. Take a short detour to the left towards the refuge.
(3) Return to the junction 50m from the refuge and follow the path straight on towards Cabane du Vaccivier. Pass through a rocky scree slope then descend a short, tricky section to reach a fork.
(4) Continue left along the less marked ascending path. At times the trail is no longer visible; you must anticipate and look for cairns further ahead to find your way.
(5) Towards the centre of the cirque, just before crossing a torrent, continue right along the path (ignore a trail that climbs steeply to the left, which is not marked on the map). Continue on the other side of the cirque. Cross a scree slope to spot a steep section that climbs diagonally up the rocky ridge to go round it. This section looks more daunting than it actually is. Simply climb up a small gully between the rocks. You’ll reach a small ledge at the tip of the rocky ridge.
(6) At this point, you must be careful as the well-defined path tempts you to descend straight down the other side of the rocky ridge. Do not follow it, but turn sharply left onto a steep section, requiring you to use your hands, to find a cairn a little further up. The path, which is barely visible here, completes the circuit around the rocky ridge over a few more or less exposed slabs.
Continue along the slope, cross a scree slope less steep than the previous one and reach a rock painted white (less visible when descending), just before a large boulder near the Aiguille de la Vache.
(7) Continue straight on, pass the large boulder and follow the path up towards the small pass for a superb view. Return to the white-painted rock.
(7) Begin the descent to the left, initially over scree, then via sections of varying steepness to reach the Cabane du Vaccivier, tucked beneath a large boulder.
(8) Join the path coming from the Refuge du Pigeonnier and descend to the left. Pass a short steep section at the foot of a rocky outcrop and continue the descent via switchbacks to reach a footbridge in the Vallon du Giobernay. Continue the gentler descent, cross a small wood and reach a junction.
(9) Continue straight on above the stream, go round the Cabane du Giobernay and continue the descent. Cross another footbridge and reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Difficult 
