This is a walk where you'll find shelter right in the heart of mountain pastures and where you can enjoy a friendly meal ... in very pleasant surroundings.
Author's time : 5 hrs
Distance : 8.06km
Vertical gain : 585m
Vertical drop : 589m
Highest point : 1900m
Lowest point : 1336m 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Snowshoeing
Areas : Alps, Champsaur, Dauphiné 
Location : Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas
(05260)
Starting point : N 44.674977° / E 6.269185° Access : Coming from Pont-du-Fossé turn right on the Route de Serre-Eyrauds and then along the Route du Clot Davin at the first junction. Park before the turning area.
(D/A) Take the wide trail that begins going fully east. Ignore the trail on the right at the first intersection and continue straight on for a good climb. Reach a short pasture and then go back through forest and, after a few turns, you'll get to the GR50 crossroads.
(1) Turn right on the wide GR trail.
After a short climb, walk along the contour path until you reach an intersection where the right-hand the trail is blocked by a red and white cross.
(2) Continue on the GR, starting a short climb that leads to mountain pasture, keep going and get to the Cabane de Tante Yvonne.
(3) Go west and then north to get to viewing point overlooking the Drac valley.
(4) Go back on the same path to return to the cabin(3) then (2).
(2) Turn left on the path blocked by the red and white cross to reach the wide trail on the right-hand side of the Ravin des Péllissier.
Then continue to descend on the well-marked trail and reach the Ravin des Ricoux.
(5) Cross it and continue quietly on the trail to reach Clot Davin and the car park(D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 1376m
1 : km 1.02 - alt. 1628m - R50 intersection
2 : km 2.96 - alt. 1729m - GR intersection, returning path
3 : km 3.65 - alt. 1820m - The Cabane de Tante Yvonne
4 : km 4.18 - alt. 1886m - Viewing point
5 : km 6.87 - alt. 1492m - Ravin des Ricoux
D/A : km 8.06 - alt. 1371m
In winter, take a pair of snowshoes and warm clothing.
Shelter at the Cabane de Tante Yvonne
It's an open cabin with a table, benches and stove. This cabin is open to everyone and was a gift from Madam Yvonne Rostaing (1917 - 2007) to the commune of Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas.
Of course, this hike can also be done in summer ... but on foot.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
The Drac valleys (Noir and Blanc), come together just upstream of the Serre-Eyraud intersection.
Orcières Merlette in the big resort of Champsaur.
The more modest resorts of Saint-Léger-les Mélèzes and Ancelle.
The village of Pont-du-Fossé and its various activities.
Gîte/cottage accommodation in Pont-du-Fossé.
3.91km
+308m
-301m
2 hr
Easy
Starting point in Le Monêtier-les-Bains - 05 - Hautes-Alpes The Briançonnais region had several hundred peasant-mines each operated by 2 to 3 people.
This route lets you access two of these sites in the Guisane valley. Here you can still find remnants of these operations.
It also offers stunning panoramic views of the Guisane valley and the Les Agneaux mountain. You can enjoy this in both summer and winter, with snowshoes (the southern exposure allows for rapid stabilisation of the snowpack).
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
