July 23

We started on our long-planned walk along GR 54 from Gioberney to the refuge of Vallonpierre which faces the peak of Sirac. The plan was to stay the night in the refuge and then go on along GR54, round Sirac to the refuge Pré de Chaumette, walking down to les Auberts on the third day. We left our car in the car park below the refuge of Gioberney and then walked up to the refuge de Vallonpierre. This took us 3 hours, but we got very hot due to a late start. The old refuge is sited by a small lake with a meadow behind it. We spotted marmots by the rocks. A new refuge is being built nearby. A helicopter delivered building workers and materials.

Click on any image to see an enlarged version

Loading...
Lizards

Loading...
Gentians

 

Loading...
Geranium and rhododendron

 

Loading...
View of Sirac

Loading...
Almost at the top

Loading...
Lac Vallonpierre

Loading...
Refuge of Vallonpierre

Loading...
New and old refuges

Loading...
Sirac

Loading...
The peak of Sirac

Loading...
The helicopter arrives

Loading...
The helicopter delivers