Clarée ski tour

Day 1Névache → Refuge Buffère

From Névache, we glide gently over the still-sleepy valley. The roofs gradually disappear behind the snow-covered larches. The climb is steady, ideal for finding your rhythm and soaking up the winter atmosphere. The valley fades away, white and silent. On arrival, the Buffère refuge stands out against the snow, facing the summits. The first night at altitude is a calm one, punctuated by the clear cold and the light of the pure Hautes-Alpes sky.

C. Tempier – AD05

Day 2Refuge Buffère → Refuge du Chardonnet

We set off in a high-mountain atmosphere. The slopes open wide, between immaculate combes and more pronounced reliefs. The snow shapes the landscape and softens the forms, while the silence becomes almost total. The route passes through wilderness, where every trace counts. The Chardonnet refuge finally appears, on the edge of the forest and the mountain pastures, at the foot of the limestone cliffs of the Cerces.

P. Domeyne – AD05

Day 3Refuge du Chardonnet → Refuge Ricou

This day alternates gentle descents and gentle ascents. The skis glide through open valleys, sometimes bordered by snow-covered rock bars. The light changes with the hours, revealing shades of white and blue. We descend to the Ricou refuge overlooking the Clarée valley. The slopes widen, the mountain pastures reappear beneath the snow.

T. Blais

Day 4
Refuge Ricou → Refuge I Re Magi

The route gradually climbs towards the Italian border. The atmosphere is wide and bright, with vast open spaces ideal for skiing. The view is far-reaching, between rounded peaks and more assertive ridges. The transition to Italy is natural and seamless, guided simply by the terrain and the snow. The I Re Magi refuge, warm and welcoming, marks a change of scenery, where the mountains take center stage.

T. Blais

Day 5
Refuge I Re Magi → Névache

For the last stage, the return to Névache is gentle. The combes offer fine descents, before gradually returning to the larch forests. The Clarée valley draws closer, as peaceful as ever beneath its white mantle. We glide down one last time in this unspoilt winter setting. The finish in Névache brings this tour to a close, leaving an impression of a simple yet profound journey to the heart of the snow-covered Hautes-Alpes.