Sunday 26 July 2020

Ecrins 2020: Sunday: Refuge des Bans

 [Notes : Arrival] [Ref des Bans: GPS: up; down]

A quiet morning. I go down to town for bread while it is still cool, and we all relax enjoying the sun and the view.

Around 12 we head off along the rod to Entre-les-Aigues, find a place in the large but nearly full car park, and head up along the path toward the Refuge des Bans. This is nominally a rest day, but this is just a day walk, so that's OK. Off to the left is the river, and the enticing bridge, and the soft path up that the GR54 takes. Wx: cool; somewhat o'cast.

After some levelish bits, then some climbing, we end up levelish again with a view of the refuge on it's spur of rock. Dead center on this pic, just visible if you click and expand.

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A little further on we're told not to walk on the snow bridge so of course we do.

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After that it is just a little more up, around and back; and we're there inside our nominal hour-and-a-half. There are chickens. And a cat. My best pic of the general ambience is probably this panorama, despite the terrible "alien" effect it has had on E:

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It is a smallish hut, most used to offering people dinner on its small but lovely terrace. D and E have crepes, and then E had a something sucre. I had the cheese and saucisson I carried up. While eating, it was cool enough to put on a fleece. Behind the hut is a fairly steep cirque leading up into places I've never been. We walked up a little way but not far, mindful that this was but a day walk to get our legs.

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And so back down, with the sky clearing somewhat. Half way down there's a sedgy little lake with orchids.

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Back home, we went town to Les Vallois for dinner, after calling into the regular Sunday Zoom call; I had the saucisse aux choux.

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Next: Monday-Tuesday: Lac d'Eychauda and Pic du Rif.

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