The Battens in the Vanoise June 2006
31 August 2006 22:46, | Members' Reports
Geof and Margaret Batten report:
Having read John Parson’s account of his and Joy’s hut-to-hut walking in the Vanoise last year (see Newsletter No 207, September 2005), we were encouraged to spend a week there at the end of June on our way back from a stay at our caravan in the south. We decided to base ourselves at the Refuge de l’Orgère which stands above Modane at 1935m close to the GR5 and which is accessible by road. It offers beautiful views of Aiguille Doran behind and across the valley to the Point du Fréjus on the French-Italian border. All this plus comfortable bunk rooms and superb food, especially for those of us staying for more than one night.
We did three walks from the hut: along the GR5 to Col Barbier; up to Lac de la Partie with a good view of the snow-covered Col de Chavière and a half-day ‘nature walk’ around the head of the valley above the hut. Our other walks involved moving the car: to above Aussois to visit the Refuge de la Fournache with good views back across to the Col Barbier and down to the two hydro-electric reservoirs Plan d’Amont and Plan d’Arval; to Vancendières above Bessans and then by foot to the Avérole refuge at the head of the valley and, finally, up to the Bellecombe parking above Termignon to walk to the Refuge du Plan du Lac and on to the Refuge d’Entre-Deux-Eaux with the massif of La Grande Casse (3855m) behind it. On every walk we encountered the most amazing range and quantity of wild flowers- we think the most spectacular we have ever seen in the Alps- and all in virtually unbroken sunshine.
Like John Parson, we would heartily recommend the Vanoise: easy to get to, great scenery and a network of attractive huts. As always, please contact us if you would like more information.
Having read John Parson’s account of his and Joy’s hut-to-hut walking in the Vanoise last year (see Newsletter No 207, September 2005), we were encouraged to spend a week there at the end of June on our way back from a stay at our caravan in the south. We decided to base ourselves at the Refuge de l’Orgère which stands above Modane at 1935m close to the GR5 and which is accessible by road. It offers beautiful views of Aiguille Doran behind and across the valley to the Point du Fréjus on the French-Italian border. All this plus comfortable bunk rooms and superb food, especially for those of us staying for more than one night.
We did three walks from the hut: along the GR5 to Col Barbier; up to Lac de la Partie with a good view of the snow-covered Col de Chavière and a half-day ‘nature walk’ around the head of the valley above the hut. Our other walks involved moving the car: to above Aussois to visit the Refuge de la Fournache with good views back across to the Col Barbier and down to the two hydro-electric reservoirs Plan d’Amont and Plan d’Arval; to Vancendières above Bessans and then by foot to the Avérole refuge at the head of the valley and, finally, up to the Bellecombe parking above Termignon to walk to the Refuge du Plan du Lac and on to the Refuge d’Entre-Deux-Eaux with the massif of La Grande Casse (3855m) behind it. On every walk we encountered the most amazing range and quantity of wild flowers- we think the most spectacular we have ever seen in the Alps- and all in virtually unbroken sunshine.
Like John Parson, we would heartily recommend the Vanoise: easy to get to, great scenery and a network of attractive huts. As always, please contact us if you would like more information.