Discovering the Versant du Soleil refuges

DAY 1:
0/ Set off from Foran car park, going towards Mont Rosset. The start is steep.
1/ Follow signs to Refuge de la Balme, take a brief stop to recuperate.

Variant by Lac de Portette and the Col de la Charbonnière (off-trail hiking, ask a guide for information - contact information at the front of the booklet).
2/ Then follow Refuge de Presset where you spend the night. A magnificent view awaits you in this isolated site: admire the Pierra Menta and Aiguilles de la Nova.

A fairly intense first day covering 8km and 1200m elevation gain. You can get to the Refuge de la Balme through the Foran valley for a slightly easier day covering 7km and 920m elevation gain or make it longer by going via Lac de Portette and the Col de la Charbonnière (marked with a dotted line - 9km 1245m elev. gain)

DAY 2:
3/ After a night in Refuge de Presset, take the path going towards the Pierra Menta then pass by Lac d’Amour.
4/ Reach La Coire refuge via the Col du Coin. You can take a break at the refuge to recuperate.
5/ Go back down to Laval then take the direction of the Pont des Lanches, cross the Plan des Archers and Crêt Jourdan to get to St Guérin chapel.
THE WAY BACK IS LONG / road: you can leave a car in Laval before setting off to avoid this last part.
A second day with little elevation gain (460mD+) but a longer distance (15.5km / 460m elev. gain and 1370m elev. drop).

3 days / 2 nights in refuges: following the same route both ways. You spend the first night in the Refuge de Presset and the second in La Coire or l'Econdu refuge.