The following hiking options in France's
Mercantour
National Park (Parc National du Mercantour) will be available on the
Maritime Alps trip. Choose the hike that's best
for you!
|
5
Lac de Trécolpas |
OPTION 1
Circuit de
Trécolpas
Start: Parking area, Boréon (5,479 ft)
Destination: Loop hike via Refuge Cougourde and
Lac de Trécolpas.
End: Parking area, Boréon (5,479 ft)
Estimated time: About 5.5 hours
Elevation: Gain of 1,600 ft; loss of 1,600 ft
Highest point: Lac de Trécolpas (7,054 ft)
Total distance: About 5 miles |
| From the
starting point the trail ascends the Val du Haut Boréon alongside the
stream the drains the valley. Larch woods give way to open meadows as
you approach the newly rebuilt Refuge de la Cougourde. The refuge
commands a view of the Val du Haut Boréon and the bulky, 9,584-foot
gneiss mountain called “la Cougourde.” (A small, boot-beaten path leads
up valley from behind the refuge for another half kilometer to the
shallow but pretty Lac des Sagnes. From the refuge, the trail more or
less follows a contour on the east slope of the Vallon du Haut Boréon
before making a short ascent into the hanging valley that contains the
Lac de Trécolpas whose beauty is punctuated by a tiny island set at the
lake’s eastern end. From the lake, follow the trail that descends to the
floor of the Vallon du Haut Boréon, and from here retrace your steps to
the starting point at Boréon. |
5
Lac des Sagnes |
 |
5
Lacs Bessons |
OPTION
2
Lacs Bessons
Start: Parking area, Boréon (5,479 ft)
Destination: Lacs Bessons (8,350 ft)
End: Parking area, Boréon (5,479 ft)
Estimated time: 6.5 - 7 hours
Elevation: Gain of 2,870 ft; loss of 2,870 ft
Highest point: Lacs Bessons (8,350 ft)
Total distance: About 7 miles |
| The route of this hike parallels that
of Option 1 for the first mile and a half, or so. At that point, a
signpost marks that start of the trail to the Lacs Bessons. This very
steep and strenuous path follows the course of the narrow Vallon Sangué
and leads to the incomparably beautiful Lacs Bessons. “Bessons” is a
Provençal word that translates to “jumeaux” in French, or “twins” in
English. The name Lacs Bessons—Twin Lakes—is apt. These two cobalt blue
gems are separated by a slender, glacially polished rock “rib.” Yellow
gentians (Gentiana lutea) and other alpine flowers soften the
rocky landscape. Descend "cross-country" to the Lac des Sagnes and the
nearby Refuge de la Cougourde. Follow the trail that descends the Val du
Haut Boréon to return to the starting point. |
5
View of la Cougourde en route from Lacs
Bessons to Lac des Sagnes. |
|
|
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Softly Adventures, Inc., PO Box 86250, Portland, OR 97286
503-788-9017, Toll free 1-888-743-0723, info@walkingsoftly.com |
