Retrouvance® trek: high Verdon and Entraunes valley

Description

Between the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes, I propose you to discover a territory made of high mountain pastures and forests, little known by hikers: the high Verdon - Entraunes valley. This itinerary takes you through unspoilt mountain landscapes with abundant wildlife.

The privilege of this trekking is to take advantage of the beautiful forest houses of altitude, totally isolated and restored in the pure mountain tradition (interior all in local larch, showers and toilets, wood stove, etc.). This means that you don't have to go down to the bottom of the valleys for accommodation, which makes the circuit accessible with reasonable differences in altitude.

If you have other desires, I also propose throughout the summer:

• 5-day hiking with bivouac on the tracks of wolves in the Southern Alps,
• a hiking family stay with bivouac in the wolves valley,
• 5 days of hiking and relaxing in Gap,
• a Retrouvance® trip in the Buëch and Dévoluy
• and another Retrouvance trek on the Millevaches plateau.

Program

D1: Beauvezer - Saint-Pierre Gorges - Congerman refuge.
Meet at 10:30am at the Villars-Heyssier bridge (Beauvezer municipality) where I will be waiting for you. Your luggage will be handed over to the logistics manager. Hike to the Congerman refuge (1860m). Isolated in a setting of larch trees, this building was constructed at the end of the 19^th century and was used to house teams of planters during the major reforestation of mountain land. Nurseries were set up on the flat areas below.
Positive altitude difference: approximately 800 meters, distance: 11km, approximately 4.5 hours of walking.

D2: Congerman refuge - Fruchière forest house.
Today we pass through the Barre de Pisse-en-l'Air, the Baisse du Détroit, the Lignin lakes and the Mouriès hut.
On arrival, we enjoy a refreshing swim in the Lance pools.
The highlights of the day are the Baisse (or pass) du Détroit at an altitude of 2472 meters, the lunar landscape of the Lignin lakes, and the remarkable glacial valley of La Lance with its giant potholes.
We spend the night in a renovated former sheepfold, surrounded by pastures and close to the Lance torrent, which offers a sunny terrace with views of the rugged mountains.
D+: 700m, distance: 17km, approximately 6.5 hours of walking.

D3: Lançonnet loop - Fruchière forest house.
During this stage, we walk through the heart of a larch forest on a trail crossing an old logging site where Swiss pines have taken root alongside blueberries and raspberries.
D+: 700 m, distance: 10km, approximately 4 hours of walking.

D4: La Fruchière forest house - Couesto forest house.
On the agenda for the day: Ratery, the old cabin, the Col des Champs pass, and the ONF lodge in Couesto. You will cross the Haut Verdon national forest, planted in the 19^th century to combat erosion, as well as the black marl landscapes of the Col des Champs pass.
We will have time to meet and talk with an agent from the National Forestry Office who will present his profession.
Overnight stay at the Retrouvance® lodge in Couesto (2050m) with a panoramic view of the Aiguilles de Pelens, which change dramatically at dusk and dawn.
D+: 750m, distance: 16km, approximately 6.5 hours of walking + 20 minutes (evening and morning).

D5: Couesto - Garrets mountain huts.
Today we have several route options:

• along balcony trails in the heart of Mercantour National Park, passing by the glacial lake of Lausson nestled at an altitude of 2327 meters,
• or Entraunes and its valley running alongside the Var river with the Aiglière waterfall.

You can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the upper Var valley and, with a little luck, the herds of chamois in Mercantour.
Night at the Retrouvance® des Garrets lodge (2050m). A former forest house from the early 20^th century, this lodge was also a base for large reforestation projects. Isolated in the heart of the Mercantour and inaccessible by car, this is where you will spend your last night in the forest before tackling the highest point of the route and slowly returning to civilization.
D+: 800m, distance: 18km, approximately 7 hours of walking + 20 minutes with your overnight gear from the logistics vehicle (small bag provided).

D6: Les Garrets forest lodge - Thorame-Haute train station.
From the Garrets forest lodge, we cross the Col de la Cayolle, the highest point of the route at 2639 meters, and arrive at Lake Allos.
At 1:30pm, a shuttle bus takes you from the Lake Allos car park to the village of Colmars-les-Alpes, where your luggage will be waiting for you at the Tourist Office.
At 2:30pm, a regular bus transfer from Colmars-les-Alpes to Beauvezer or Thorame-Haute train station will take you back to the starting point from 3 p.m.
For those who are not pressed for time and would like to take the opportunity to explore a magnificent fortified village or a 17^th-century military fort, admission is free.
D+: 600 m, 5.5 hours of walking.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain leader.
• Full board accomodation.
• The logistician (transport of luggage from forest relay to forest relay, recovery and preparation of meals, house cleaning at the start, etc.).
• The shuttles from the lake of Allos to the station of Thorame-Haute.

The price does not include

• Return transport to Beauvezer, one hour drive from Digne-les-Bains.
• Cancellation and repatriation insurance
• Personal expenses.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

• Unusual accommodation at 2000 meters of altitude, which is a real challenge!
• Thanks to an exceptional authorization obtained by the ONF, you have the privilege of being the only hikers to sleep comfortably for 2 nights in the central zone of the Mercantour National Park, renowned for the beauty of its landscape and for its incredible biodiversity.
• This allows us to reduce the altitude difference and to make this trek accessible to "average" walkers.

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