Day 14, Jun 27, 2024
From Gabas to Lac d’Anglas
19 km hiked, 27.7% complete

According to the guidebook, this next section would take 9 hours involving 1600m steep ascent and navigating a mountain pass with possible snow. We decided that we would go only the first 9 km,  then camp near a small hut with nearby water.

It was about 8 am when we set off up the road, then into forest. About an hour along and we came to a narrow, exposed track with a chain on one side for protection. This is called the Corniche des Alhas and is on one side of a deep gorge. We were surprised to find that it really wasn’t a difficult section compared with some other parts of the trail.

Onwards and steeply up an old rocky miner’s trail we went for about an hour or more. We got to the top of that track but were still ascending when we saw another snake at the side of the path, but it didn’t stop to be photographed.

It was approaching midday when we got to the hut in the valley where we had planned to camp. Time for an early lunch but, we felt, too early to set up  camp. After some crackers with cheese, we continued up the valley, following the trail until we finally reached the saddle. We did traverse some patches of snow but, as it was a hot afternoon, the snow was soft and it was easy to pass stepping in the footprints of those who had gone before us.

Of course, the descent on the other side of the mountain was slow with more snow, and the trail was often flowing with snow melt. Roughly halfway from the mountaintop to the next town, we came to a pretty lake where we have set up camp. It was refreshing to rinse the sweat off but the water was too cold to be tempting for a swim.