Trapper weekend in the Vercors High Plateaus Natural Reserve

Evolve in the vast snowy lands of the largest natural reserve in France, sleep in a sheepfold at 1669 m altitude, wake up in front of the Mont Aiguille ... This is an adventure to live that you will not forget!

D1/ Friday
Meet at 6pm at Die station (transfer to be booked on registration) or directly at the Auberge de Combeau before dinner, if you're coming by car.
An immediate change of scenery at this inn at the end of the road in the Combeau valley: at the end of the world! We spend a convivial mountain evening and dine by the fire with a delicious meal prepared by Gilles, the host. We also appreciate the purity of the starry sky.

Night at the inn, in small dormitories.

D2/ Saturday
We set off on snowshoes from the inn. A superb route through the heart of the Haut-Plateaux du Vercors nature reserve, possibly via the tête Chevalière, to the bergerie des Chaumailloux. This unguarded refuge is in an exceptional location, facing Mont-Aiguille. If you're so inclined, you can help the guide dig through the snow to find the spring! A pure mountain atmosphere with a raclette prepared on the wood-burning stove!

4 to 5 hours snowshoeing.
Overnight in a refuge dormitory.

D3/ Sunday
Your mountain guide, who knows the area like the back of his hand, takes you on a wild and secret itinerary: the Bergeries du Jardin du Roy and the Pas de la Coche, at the foot of the Montagnette. A change of scenery and a great Hauts-Plateaux atmosphere guaranteed. Return to Vallon de Combeau.

5 to 6 hours snowshoeing.
Check-out around 4pm at the Combeau inn or 5pm at the Die train station.

Walking times are given as a guide only. This program may be modified by your guide to suit the group or snow and weather conditions. You'll enjoy the atmosphere and light of winter, even if you have to wear snowshoes to reach the snow.

Level: (on average) 5-hour walk per day off-piste and/or 400 m ascent. The walking pace is steady. The tour leader can shorten or lengthen the walking days according to the wishes and level of the group.

Accommodation during the tour:
The Auberge de Combeau offers a terrace, a dining room with fireplace and upstairs, dormitories for 6 people with 2 showers and 2 toilets.
The refuge is an old sheepfold, sleeping 15 in two dormitories with mattresses, blankets and a wood-burning stove. However, like all the reserve's refuges, the sheepfold has no amenities or running water.
Because of the availability of the Chaumailloux hut in winter, if the sheepfold was already booked, we might go to another little corner of paradise just as wild and rustic, the Tussac hut. This would modify the itinerary without losing any of its charm.

Meals :
Meals and breakfasts are prepared by our host at the Auberge de Combeau or by the guide at the sheepfold. The food served is balanced and varied. The cuisine is hearty, traditional and adapted to the hikers' program. Cold meals taken during the hike are hearty and accompanied by provisions (dried fruit, chocolate, cookies). Picnics are prepared by the tour leader using local shops.

Physical preparation :
To get the most out of your trip, don't forget to keep fit once a week by walking (approx. 10-15 km), if possible on a route with a gradient (250 m/h), or by taking part in a sports activity (1h to 1h30).