Le cirque d’Arsine par le sentier des Crevasses
Long climb that goes around the Combeynot massif for a full day of hiking in search of the lakes of the Arsine glacial cirque.
From the car park under the Lautaret pass, climb up to quickly reach a crossroads.
Turn right and leave the Laurichard trail. Cross a footbridge to gradually climb up the hillside. The trail crosses several streams and shrubby areas to lead to a more open area.
It leads to the L'Homme viewpoint. Shortly afterwards, cross and close a gate and descend the schistose and gullied slopes of the path called Crevasses, taking care in this slippery terrain in wet weather.
Reach the Villar d'Arène mountain pasture and cross the GR 54 near the weather station. Shortly afterwards, leave the path that goes off to the right towards the refuge and continue up the Rif de la Planche valley to reach the Col d'Arsine via the GR 54.
It is time to leave the GR 54, on the right, to cross the large frontal moraine of the Arsine glacier. From this ledge shaped by glacial movements, two large lakes at the foot of a cirque mark the end of the climb (2455 m).
Return to the starting car park by this same route. On the way back, there is the possibility of a small variation via the Alpe de Villar d'Arèn and Chamoissière refuges.
Turn right and leave the Laurichard trail. Cross a footbridge to gradually climb up the hillside. The trail crosses several streams and shrubby areas to lead to a more open area.
It leads to the L'Homme viewpoint. Shortly afterwards, cross and close a gate and descend the schistose and gullied slopes of the path called Crevasses, taking care in this slippery terrain in wet weather.
Reach the Villar d'Arène mountain pasture and cross the GR 54 near the weather station. Shortly afterwards, leave the path that goes off to the right towards the refuge and continue up the Rif de la Planche valley to reach the Col d'Arsine via the GR 54.
It is time to leave the GR 54, on the right, to cross the large frontal moraine of the Arsine glacier. From this ledge shaped by glacial movements, two large lakes at the foot of a cirque mark the end of the climb (2455 m).
Return to the starting car park by this same route. On the way back, there is the possibility of a small variation via the Alpe de Villar d'Arèn and Chamoissière refuges.
