Trek the Vanoise: Alpine Huts, Lakes & Marmots

From the Mountain hut at La Femma, head towards Lac de la Rocheure and the Col de la Rocheure or, as an option, the Col de Pierre Blanche, depending on the condition of the group and the weather.

The steady climb takes you first through pastures and mountain pastures, then onto mineral terrain dotted with scree and rockfalls typical of the high mountains. You progress at a steady pace, pausing to observe the flora and animal tracks to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of the environment.

At the lake, you'll analyse the morphology of the cirque and the hydrological signs; at the pass, you'll work on route reading and techniques for moving around on unstable terrain.

The aim of the day is explicitly to make the transition from a pastoral environment to a mineral world, while reinforcing self-sufficiency (effort management, route choice, collective safety).

Return to the Mountain hut at the end of the day for a debriefing, equipment management and an evening to discuss the day's observations.

From the Mountain hut at La Femma, we descend along an easy pastoral path to the hamlet of Plume Fine, a vestige of local pastoral life, crossing alpine meadows and small valleys.

The route offers a view of the Vanoise glaciers, providing an opportunity to observe the glacial relief and learn about alpine morphology. We stop off at the Plan du Lac Mountain hut for a break and a technical briefing on map reading and water management in the mountains.

We then set off to explore several discreet lakes with moraine banks, observing the flora and animal tracks.

The progress is deliberately gentle, alternating between walking and teaching so that everyone can get to grips with the routes and safety in mountain terrain.

The day concludes with a structured descent to the starting car park, followed by a group debriefing on the day's achievements and the conditions on the ground.