Refuge du Cuchet walks

Stage7 of this journey takes you from the Refuge de l’Arpont to the very welcoming Refuge de la Fournache. This stage skirts around the Dent Parrachée. This is the last time you will see the Vanoise glaciers. This trail, which is at times technical and challenging due to its elevation gain, overlooks the Maurienne Valley, Val Cénis and, on the other side, Italy. You will also catch a glimpse of the Thabor, before arriving at the bottom of Aussois, with its two lakes and the Aussois dam.

This tenth stage completes the crossing of the Vanoise massif. From the Refuge de l’Arpont, the GR®5 descends to the hamlet of Le Mont, crosses the Combe d’Enfer, climbs the flank of the Crête de Belle Place and crosses the valley of the Ruisseau de Bonne Nuit to reach the ruins of the hamlet of La Loza. It follows the contour of a rocky ridge like a balcony and descends via a few hairpin bends towards a ravine, then continues almost level through the Bellecôte valley. The path passes beneath the chairlifts of the Aussois ski resort and runs alongside the Plan Sec and La Fournache mountain huts. It skirts around Lac du Plan d’Amont and runs along the upper edge of Lac du Plan d’Aval before crossing the Col du Barbier. It climbs towards the Barbier chalets and descends to the hamlet of l’Orgère to reach the Refuge de l’Orgère.

Day3 of a two-circular route in the Vanoise National Park, from the Refuge de la Femma to the Refuge de la Leisse. There’s nothing particularly complicated about this hike, where we’ll descend the Femma valley before climbing back up alongside the Leisse valley, which I’m particularly fond of.

Second day of this mini trek around Tignes-Val d'Isère, three legendary passes in the Vanoise with magnificent views of the neighbouring glaciers. A long day with a few technical sections, particularly at Tunnel 3000 (7).

Étape de la Grande Traversée des Alpes traversant le Parc National de la Vanoise du Nord au Sud.

This route follows an unmarked but useful path between the Refuge de la Leisse and the Refuge de la Femma, crossing the Col de la Pierre Blanche.

Day2 of the Grande Casse circular route, from the Refuge de la Leisse to the Refuge du Col du Palet, following theGR®55via Val Claret.

Day4 of the Grande Casse circular loop, from the Refuge de la Leisse to the Refuge du Col du Palet, following theGR®55via Val Claret.

A steady climb takes you to the Col de la Leisse (2,761 m), offering breathtaking views of the Grande Motte glacier, before descending to Tignes Val-Claret with, in the background, the Dôme de la Sache (3,588 m), the Pointe de la Grande Sassière and, to the left, the Col du Palet and the Pointe du Chardonnet.

This short hike is the starting point for a magnificent three-day trek between Haute Maurienne and Val de Suze (Italy), with beautiful lakes and numerous small glaciers.But the setting and the welcome at the Refuge de Bramanette are such that they alone justify spending the night there and descending back down to the valley the next day!