Pic Turbat via the Refuge des Souffles

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A challenging hike that will take you up a superb peak of over 3,000 m, facing the imposing Olan. The scenery is breathtaking, taking in the Refuge des Souffles and Lac Lautier, all with stunning views of the surrounding area!

Details

n°106472402
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.44 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 10 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 6,575 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6,578 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9,885 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,366 ft
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Photos

During the ascent
View from the summit
Heading for the summit
Lake Lautier

Description of the walk

You can park in the car park at the entrance to the village of Villar-Loubière, on the D985a. Several spaces are available.

(S/E) Cross the road and follow it to the right.

(1) Just before the church, turn left and walk through the centre of the village. You’ll reach a junction as you leave the village.

(2) Turn left towards the Refuge des Souffles. Climb up, overlooking the Torrent du Villar, until you reach a junction.

(3) Head to the right (ignore the path straight ahead, which you will take on the way down). Cross the footbridge over the Torrent du Lautier.

(4) Carry on straight ahead (ignore the path on the left, which you’ll take on the way down). Follow a series of hairpin bends leading to the Pas de Galiane.

(5) Take the path on the left (on the return journey, you’ll come from the right). Follow another series of switchbacks before reaching the Refuge des Souffles, which offers a magnificent view of the peak of the same name.

(6) Head east along the cairn-marked path which climbs towards the Col des Clochettes, from where you can see the route to follow towards Lac Lautier.

(7) Continue along the path.

(8) Head straight on to reach the lake.

(9) Walk past the lake and head for the Col de Colombes.

(10) Turn left towards the ridge, following the red markings and the cairns. Some sections require you to use your hands and a bit of care. The final few metres before reaching the summit are more exposed, so please be very careful. From the summit, there is a stunning view of the surrounding peaks, including the Olan.

(11) Turn back and descend via the same route to the Col de Colombes.

(10) Turn right and head towards Lac Lautier.

(9) Carry on straight ahead and head back down to the junction you passed on the way up.

(8) Turn left and head down towards the Cabane du Lautier.

(12) Turn left just before the hut and descend via a series of wide hairpin bends to reach the Pas de Galiane.

(5) Head downhill to the left, following the path you took on the way up.

(4) Turn right and continue the descent.

(3) Head straight on (south-east).

(2) Turn left and walk through the village.

(1) You’ll come out onto the D985a; follow it to the right to quickly reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,369 ft - Car park – D985a road - Séveraissette (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.1 - alt. 3,392 ft - Fork in the road - Église Sainte-Anne (Villar-Loubière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.43 - alt. 3,629 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.83 - alt. 3,976 ft - Southern junction of the short circular loop
  5. 4 : mi 1.16 - alt. 4,314 ft - Northern junction of the short circular loop
  6. 5 : mi 1.84 - alt. 4,984 ft - Western junction of the circular loop – Pas de Galiane
  7. 6 : mi 3.2 - alt. 6,407 ft - Refuge des Souffles
  8. 7 : mi 3.93 - alt. 7,133 ft - Col des Clochettes
  9. 8 : mi 4.1 - alt. 7,054 ft - Eastern junction of the circular loop
  10. 9 : mi 4.85 - alt. 7,746 ft - Lac du Lautier
  11. 10 : mi 5.16 - alt. 7,923 ft - Col de Colombes
  12. 11 : mi 6.13 - alt. 9,885 ft - Pic Turbat (3028 m)
  13. 12 : mi 8.98 - alt. 6,263 ft - Lautier Hut
  14. S/E : mi 12.44 - alt. 3,369 ft - Car park – D985a road

Notes

The walk can be split into two stages, with an overnight stay at the Souffles mountain refuge (6).

Other walks in the area

Walking Refuge des Souffles - Lac Lautier - Crêtes de Colombes

Visorando Member
Refuge des Souffles - Lac Lautier - Crêtes de Colombes
↔10.71 mi ↗+4,888 ft ↘-4,892 ft ◔9h 10 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
Route at the foot of Pic des Souffles and Pic Turbat to discover Lac Lautier and its surroundings.

Walking Circular route in the Valgaudemar

Visorando Member
Boucle dans le Valgaudemar
↔29.74 mi ↗+15,112 ft ↘-15,098 ft ◔5 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
This 5-day trek is aimed at hikers wishing to camp in tents. The route crosses the Valgaudémar valley and passes through the village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar, where you can stock up on supplies at the local grocery shop. The route crosses the Écrins Massif and offers an optional ascent of Pic Turbat (3,028 m) for the most determined, whilst also providing accessible routes with mostly signposted sections. Ideal for walkers in good physical condition, it offers a complete adventure combining forests, lakes and high peaks, with varied elevation changes and a few short off-trail sections requiring particular attention to navigation.

Walking Villar Loubière – Sebeyras Lakes

Visorando Member
Villar Loubière - Lacs de Sebeyras
↔5.63 mi ↗+4,511 ft ↘-354 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
This first stage takes you along the GRP® Tour du Vieux Chaillol trail, linking Villar-Loubière to the Sebeyras Lakes. The route passes by the Pétarel Lakes, with a gradual climb through the Valgaudémar State Forest.

Walking A circular tour of Lautier Lake starting at the Cabane du Lautier and the Refuge des Souffles

Visorando Member
Lac du Lautier en boucle par la Cabane du Lautier et le Refuge des Souffles
↔8.41 mi ↗+4,449 ft ↘-4,442 ft ◔7h 45 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
A lovely circular route taking you up to the beautiful Lac du Lautier, in the shade in the morning and partly through the trees. Stunning panoramic views; the climb is steady but takes in varied scenery. Return via the Refuge des Souffles.

Walking From Villar-Loubière to La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar via Lac du Lautier

Visorando Member
↔8.29 mi ↗+4,780 ft ↘-4,475 ft ◔8h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
A beautiful, varied hike with stunning views and a lake perfect for relaxing. A pleasant climb (a little steep at the start and very end), in the shade (early in the morning) for a good half of the route; a fairly long and difficult descent over scree. A full day's hike. Use the shuttle bus or bring two vehicles.

Walking Villar-Loubière - Refuge des Souffles

Visorando Member
Villar-Loubière - Refuge des Souffles
↔2.92 mi ↗+3,005 ft ↘-3 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
Efirst stage to warm up your legs before climbing to the Refuge des Souffles.

Walking Refuge des Souffles - Le Désert-en-Valjouffrey

Visorando Member
↔6.85 mi ↗+2,221 ft ↘-4,491 ft ◔5h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
Thesecond stage of this route, which we unfortunately completed in the rain in 6 hours and 10 minutes. We set off from the Refuge des Souffles with a steep climb right from the start up to the Col de la Vaurze. A challenging pass from which the view must be magnificent on a clear day. A descent over slate-covered ground, which is very slippery in wet weather. Numerous landslides. The reward: the Les Arias lodge, where we received a warm welcome.

Walking Refuge des Souffles - Refuge de l'Olan

Visorando Member
Refuge des Souffles - Refuge de l'Olan
↔5.32 mi ↗+3,061 ft ↘-1,837 ft ◔5h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Villar-Loubière (Hautes-Alpes)
A magnificent second stage in a very mineral setting, culminating in the Pas de l'Olan pass. From the Souffles refuge, continue on theGR® 54 towards Lac Lautier, then the Col des Colombes and finally the Pas de l'Olan (caution: technical passage). From the pass, admire the landscape before gently descending to the Refuge de l'Olan.

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