The Cabane de Tante Yvonne (Aunt Yvonne's cabin!)

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.

Technical sheet

214094
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Last update:
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  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.06 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to author: 5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 553 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 554 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,887 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,339 m

Description of the walk

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.

(S/E) 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(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,373 m - Clot Davin
  2. 1 : km 1.02 - alt. 1,615 m - GR50 crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.96 - alt. 1,739 m - GR crossroads Return path
  4. 3 : km 3.65 - alt. 1,809 m - Aunt Yvonne's cabin
  5. 4 : km 4.18 - alt. 1,887 m - Belvedere
  6. 5 : km 6.87 - alt. 1,493 m - Ravin des Ricoux
  7. S/E : km 8.06 - alt. 1,372 m - Clot Davin

Practical information

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.

In the nearby area

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.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
helene.bernaldez
helene.bernaldez

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We followed the signs from Clos Davin, a well-marked path leading uphill, but then we had the impression that we weren't following a well-frequented area. Fallen trees to climb over or around
Aunt Yvonne's hut, a very soothing landscape
We climbed up to the lookout point and back, for a nice loop back to Clos Davin.
Nice walk overall, with beautiful scenery

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Jean Marc1
Jean Marc1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Interesting walk with a fine view of the Drac at the end. Well worth doing.

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Laurence et Massi
Laurence et Massi

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An absolutely magnificent snowshoe walk.

As it had snowed heavily, we saw little or no signposting, so we relied on the GPS points.
The climb is steep but well worth it!

Aunt Yvonne's hut is very, very nice (it has a wooden table, a bunk bed, pots and pans, a card game and a broom) and we even had a little fire in the stove before setting off again in the snow!

Unfortunately we didn't find the lookout but it was a really great walk <3!!!

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grandin
grandin ★

Thanks for your opinion, MJJG. This is indeed a snowshoe hike. If there's no snow, the trails may not exist at all.

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MJJG
MJJG

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : N/A
Busy trail : No

Hello,

We weren't able to do this hike because there is no starting point from Clot Davin !!!!
Even if you use the GPS coordinates given in the description of the hike, there is no trail.
Perhaps this trail exists in winter?

We did, however, hike to La Cabane de Tante Yvonne from Serre-Eyraud, at the ski lift ticket office car park (N 44° 40.626' - E 6° 16.534) towards Le Mourinou.
Return distance: 11.4 km - Ascent: 456 m - Descent: 461 m - Minimum altitude: 1462 m - Maximum: 1878 m.

Hike to the Belvedere of the Croix de Combeau or Croix de Vire.

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Dorydee
Dorydee

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pretty and varied loop, not always easy to find on the ground (especially the first part after the wide south-east path before joining the GR where you cross a lot of paths, the return via the combes having been marked with green dots on the trees). There's not much snow left until we reach the GR, but we still need snowshoes when we get to the mountain pasture!

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visionrandonnées
visionrandonnées

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant snowshoe hike, a beautiful day and, above all, magnificent mountain pastures under a thick layer of immaculate snow all around the hut.
Thank you, Yvonne!

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Philippe Pertuis
Philippe Pertuis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's not an easy route to find as there are a lot of tracks and markings.
but in the end, as the route is fairly short, it's easy to get there.
The mountain pastures around the hut are superb.

On the way back down, it's the same as on the way up: you cut back a little at a glance and arrive at the return trail.

Very nice snowshoe hike. We never felt exposed to avalanche risks (this opinion is mine alone :whistle.

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rplg83
rplg83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk

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fred83
fred83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice hike which corresponds well to the description but the departure is preferable from the small resort of serreyraud
sincerely

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello to all the RVers who have hiked this route and given their opinion.
There were a lot of questions about the route and the starting point.
First of all, the start is at the turnaround, which you have to reach by parking your vehicle well in advance. The best place to park is in the wide square to the right of the last hairpin bend.
To get there, follow the wide path heading south-east which, after a steep climb, joins the GR.
To return via the Pellissier valley, you need to be very careful to take the left-hand descent into the valley at the path marked with a red and white cross, indicating that this is where you leave the GR in summer. In winter, the guides from the neighbouring resorts take tourists up here almost every day, either on the way up or on the way back.
I would also add that, unlike the dedicated snowshoe trails on the edge of the resorts, this outing does not have the typical winter signposting.
I'd like to finish by pointing out that carolus43's comment

If in doubt, it's better to return the way you came.

is absolutely right when you're in any doubt about the route (this comment applies to any outing).
Have a nice day!

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carolus43
carolus43

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely hike we did with our 11-year-old son, wild and alone in the middle of the snowy immensity, just the way we like it.
The return route is not easy to find, so we followed tracks in the snow hoping they were the right ones and we were lucky they were. If in doubt, it's best to return via the outward route.

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colombel
colombel

I've considered it for next time, because I'd really like to understand!!!!

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bibi
bibi ★

Damn, not by the original route...

sincerely

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colombel
colombel

Well, back by ... the complete and well-described return route!

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