Nordic touring in the Clarée
A wild tour in the upper Clarée valley.
With Philippe, Philippe, Thomas & Xavier.
At the start of this late winter, the tricky snow conditions and a longing for a nordic atmosphere bring us to the Clarée valley, deserted at this time of year. After a first half-day exploring the beautiful Acles valley from Plampinet up to its pretty hamlet, we spend a first night in Névache.
The next day, we cast off for three days in the upper Clarée. A long transit takes us along the river to the Drayères hut, right at the end of the valley. Alone in the world, we follow the right bank of the torrent. The route offers beautiful views of the water, where twice we watch the surprising aquatic dance of white-throated dippers.
It is in this cold, padded atmosphere that we make our way through untouched snow. Coming out of the forest, the wind we had heard whistling above the trees catches us for the last hour of walking to the hut.
For some it's their first experience of a night in a hut, an unwardened one in winter at that; we organise ourselves to melt snow and not get too cold. The wintry atmosphere is at its height.
After a more or less comfortable night depending on each of us, we go up from the hut for a short tour towards the Lac des Muandes, where the instability of the snowpack is obvious. Staying away from the slightest slope, we move cautiously through a wind-blown, scoured mountain.
Back at the hut, we pack up our things and leave this place at the end of the world for a peaceful, gliding descent, this time on the left bank of the Clarée. We pass through many typical hamlets where a few smoking chimneys bear witness to the rare bold souls who live there at this time of year.
We end the day with the short but steep climb to the idyllic hamlet of Buffère, where the hut awaits us with a warm welcome and the comfort of a crackling stove. What a contrast with the day before! Once again we are alone at the hut. The next day we treat ourselves to a round trip to the Col de Buffère before heading back down to Névache.
A lovely nordic journey in the heart of winter in a wild atmosphere.
Thank you!
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