Tour of the Mean Martin & the Grand Roc Noir
In 5 days
Wandering through wide-open spaces dominated by glaciers, this tour showcases the extraordinary variety of landscapes and the wealth of the fauna and flora of the Vanoise National Park. Despite the length of some of the days, the modest height gains mean that any moderately fit walker can enjoy this tour. And a warm welcome in a comfortable mountain hut awaits you at the end of each day.
Start district: Bonneval sur Arc
Region: Maurienne
Road access and parking: Take the A43 motorway to Modane, and then go up the Maurienne Valley to Bonneval-sur-Arc. Park in the car park on the edge of Bonneval
Type of itinerary: circuit
Best season: from spring to summer, when snow free
Waymarkers: PR, GR5
Maps and guides: IGN Top 25 n° 3633 ET Tignes Val d'Isère Haute Maurienne
Mountain huts
Refuge de Vallonbrun (2272 m)
http://refuge.vallonbrun.free.fr/
Refuge du Cuchet (2160 m) - supervised hut, no meals provided
http://www.vanoise.com/
Refuge du Plan du Lac (2364 m)
http://plandulac.refuge.free.fr/
Refuge de la Femma (2352 m)
http://www.vanoise.com/
Refuge du Fond des Fours (2537 m)
http://www.vanoise.com/
Refuge du Carro (2759 m)
http://www.clubalpinlyon.com/
Gite d'étape du Petit Bonheur (Bessans)
http://petitbonheur.bessans.free.fr/
DAY 1: Bonneval-sur-Arc to the Refuge de Vallonbrun
Start height: 1790 m
Height difference: + 598 m / - 126 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 5hrs
Description:
Follow the Chemin du Petit Bonheur (GR5), beside the River Arc, back down the valley. Go through Le Villaron and Bessans to the Collet de la Madeleine. Turn right and go up to the Refuge de Vallonbrun. This first stage, mostly along the valley floor, provides an excellent warm up for the rest of the tour.
Highlight:
Rock paintings at the Rocher du Château, between Bonneval-sur-Arc and Bessans
Traditional houses at Le Villaron.
DAY 2: Refuge de Vallonbrun to the Refuge du Plan du Lac
Start height: 2272 m
Height difference: + 690 m / - 600 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 6hrs 30min
Description:
Traverse almost horizontally to the Plan de la Cha, and then go past the Refuge du Cuchet (supervised hut but with no meals provided - possible stopping off point, depending on where you started). Continue to Pré Vaillant, and then go up to the Turra de Termignon. The GR5 continues to the car park at Bellecombe, and then to the Refuge du Plan du Lac.
After the Refuge du Villaron, it is possible to climb up to the Roche aux Pieds (rock carvings) + 1hr 30min
Highlight:
View of the Glaciers de la Vanoise. Information panels at the Plan du Lac, next to the hut.
DAY 3: Refuge du Plan du Lac to the Refuge du Fond des Fours
Start height: 2364 m
Height difference: + 737 m / - 564 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 6hrs
Description:
Go down to the Chapel St Barthélémy. Turn off the GR5 to follow the right-hand path to Plume Fine. Go up the Vallon de la Rocheure to the Refuge de la Femma (staffed hut that could be used to cut the stage in two). Go up to the Col de la Rocheure (2911 m). NB: the route to the Refuge du Fond des Fours is not easy to follow in poor visibility. In bad weather, it is better to follow the Vallée des Pissets to Le Manchet (2000 m), and then go back up to the Refuge du Fond des Fours (allow an extra 1hr 30min).
Highlight
Wild high-mountain scenery. The pastures and chapels at St-Barthélémy and St-Jacques.
DAY 4: Refuge du Fond des Fours to the Refuge du Carro
Start height: 2537 m
Height difference: + 750 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 7hrs
Description: Follow the path to the Col des Fours (2976 m), and then go down to the Pont de la Neige, on the road to the Col de l'Iseran. Go down the road to the Pont de l'Oulietta, which marks the start of the "Sentier Balcon" that traverses across to the Refuge du Carro. (The tour can be cut short by following the Vallon de la Lenta straight back to Bonneval: 4hr 30min.)
Highlight:
A panoramic footpath with outstanding views of the mountains on the Franco-Italian border, including the Albaron and the Lévanna.
DAY 5: Refuge du Carro to Bonneval sur Arc
Start height: 2759 m
Height difference: - 950 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 3hrs
Description:
Follow the path down to the Hamlet of Ecot, going through the gorge below Le Montet. At La Tullière, turn right onto the track to Ecot and follow it all the way to Bonneval. Variant: This stage can be extended by going over the Col des Pariotes, and then following the path that leads to the source of the River Arc: + 2hrs.
Highlight
Visit to the traditional hamlet of Ecot, whose stone houses seem to emerge directly from the rock. Tralenta boulder field (Clapier de Fodan).
NB: A number of start points are possible (suggestions: Bessans, Bellecombe (Termignon), Le Manchet (Val d'Isère). The itinerary can easily be modified to suit the chosen start point.
