We started early on a long day's walk, which in the end took us 8.5 hours. We left the Refuge de Vallonpierre and ascended to the Col de Vallonpierre. A little before the col, to avoid crossing a large nevet (snow patch) we left the path and got stuck (i.e. we could go neither up nor down). Just then Xavier and Jean-Jacques appeared on the col. They talked George onto a path and Xavier took Jean over on a rope. We had a second breakfast on the col with Xavier and Jean-Jacques and then exchanged car keys - they continued to Gioberney to collect our car, theirs was left at les Auberts. Col de Vallonpierre is a big mass of 'schist' and going down was difficult too. We went up to a second col (Guiron) then down into another valley and up to col de la Valette, where we had a picnic lunch. This was followed by a very long walk down to the Refuge at Pré de la Chaumette.

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Col Vallonpierre with Xavier and Jean-Jacques	Between cols Valonpierre and Guiron
Col Valonpierre from Col Guiron	Col de la Valette from Col Guiron
Col de la Valette	Col de la Valette
View from Col de la Valette	Sheep keeping cool on the snow
Joubarbe	Linaire des Alpes
Refuge Pre de la Chaumette	Pre de la Chaumette