Vallonpierre Refuge - La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar

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Here we are at the final stage of this 13-day route around the magnificent Écrins National Park. A downhill stage that takes you to La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, where this journey began 13 days earlier. A splendid start to the stage, all the way down to the glacial torrents. The panorama is breathtaking, surrounded by the most beautiful peaks of the southern part of the Écrins, already leaving us with a sense of nostalgia for the past 13 days. A route with no technical difficulty.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: A 13-day grand tour of the Parc des Ecrins via the GR® 54

Details

n°13501477
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 34 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,219 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,274 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,086 m
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Photos

End of the GR 54 Ecrins National Park circuit
The Chapelle de Valgaudemar Valley
The Séveraisse torrent
The descent to the bottom of the valley

Description of the walk

(S) Start from the Vallonpierre Refuge, walking along the left bank of the lake. Ignore the path branching off to the right towards the Chambournéou Refuge.
Cross a maze of large boulders and begin the descent via numerous hairpin bends. Follow the red and white markings ofthe GR®54, which is also the route forthe GRP® du Vieux Chaillol. Continue this descent to reach the bottom of the valley on the left bank of the Torrent de la Séveraisse and arrive at a crossroads of paths.

(1) Ignore the path branching off to the right towards the torrent and stay on the GR®. Pass the Cabane de Surette and continue downhill along the left bank of the Séveraisse. You will reach a footbridge.

(2) Cross the stream via the footbridge. Follow the right bank to reach the Clot junction, just below the D480t.

(3) Continue along theGR® between the road and the Séveraisse, pass the Refuge du Clot Xavier Blanc and then reach the hamlet of Le Rif du Sap.

(4) Carry on, staying on theGR®, until you reach the Camping des Bouleaux.

(5) Cross the river again, enter the hamlet of Le Bourg and, further on, reach another footbridge.

(6) Leave theGR® here, take the footbridge on the right and enter the hamlet of Le Casset. Then turn left onto the D480 and follow it to the car park at La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar (E), today’s stage and the final point of this Écrins-Oisans tour.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 2,274 m - Start from - Refuge de Vallonpierre
  2. 1 : km 3.22 - alt. 1,668 m - Crossroads before the Cabane de Surette
  3. 2 : km 4.44 - alt. 1,566 m - Footbridge over the - Séveraissette (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 5.72 - alt. 1,431 m - Carrefour du Clot
  5. 4 : km 7.82 - alt. 1,393 m - Rif du Sap
  6. 5 : km 10.22 - alt. 1,171 m - Camping des Bouleaux
  7. 6 : km 11.45 - alt. 1,141 m - Le Casset
  8. E : km 13.6 - alt. 1,088 m - La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar

Notes

(S) Start from the Vallonpierre Refuge.
(E) The village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar.

As with all mountain hikes, bring binoculars, a camera, an IGN map and/or a guidebook.
As the route passes through several villages, you’ll have no trouble finding water and provisions if needed.
Note: many herds are guarded by sheepdogs, known as ‘patous’. Hikers are therefore strongly advised not to stray from the path. If you encounter a guard dog, remain calm and passive to reassure it.

Worth a visit

From (S) to (1), descend with views of the Sirac, the peaks of Chabournéou, Verdonn and Queyre, the Têtes, and the peaks of Loup, Bonvoisin, Jocelme and the Aupillous.
You can also stay at the Refuge du Gioberney for another trip; this link also tells the story of how the refuge was built.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.