Time to say goodbye to the Serre-Poncon area
At time of writing, I am sitting at the caravan at the lac de Saint Apollinaire campsite on a warm afternoon, having just finished our last walk in the area. Tomorrow we will be heading to the Vanoisse area of the Alps.
That walk was one last ascent to the Aigilles de Chabrières. Being the closest and most walked point in the area, it seemed appropriate to visit one last time before we leave the area.
This looks familiar... yet different.
START: Lac de Saint-Apollinaire
FINISH: Lac de Saint-Apollinaire
DISTANCE: 5 miles/ 8km
APPROX TIME: 3.5 hours
My first hike of 2013 is the return to an old friend: the Aigilles de Chabrières are the rugged craggy peaks which sit above my campsite at Lac de Saint Apollinaire, and i walked up to the viewing table to the immediate east of them on more than one occasion last year. As a result, i will not recite how to get up to the aforementioned viewing table again, but instead redirect you to last year's post as to the route to what is - on a sunny day - a breathtaking view.
Today, however, i went a step further: rather than staying put at the viewing table, i went up and into the Aigilles themselves. The Breche de l'Homme is the solitary pass which cuts the Aigilles in half, and acts as my objective for today.
A serene alpine pasture walk to a mountain pass and a hill with tremendous views.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 10.2km
APPROXIMATE TIME: 2hr 30mins
START: Les Gournieis
FINISH: Les Gournieis
This walk sees the return of the hamlet of les Gourniers, though rather than a valley walk the Col de la Gardette is a mountain pass at the end of a pleasant - though in places steep - walk up hillside and through meadow. Navigation can be tricky in places, but the views at the top are tremendous.
The last of three route suggestions atop everybody's favourite alpine peak...
DISTANCE TO THE TOP: 9km
APPROXIMATE TIME TO THE TOP: 2hrs
START: Lac de Saint Apollinaire
FINISH: Lac de Saint Apollinaire
In two previous posts, I have suggested routes onto the Pic de Chabriere via the ridge to the south east of the peak, namely the Serre de Mouton. This walk offers a new route which does not ascend via this ridge and offers a pleasant alternative.
