Pas de la Mule hiking loop from Refuge d'Avérole

As you walk through this high-altitude valley, near the Italian ridges, look up - up and up! All around you, the secret world of the "3,000s" unfolds in all directions. At the foot of all these majestic peaks, strike out from your own base camp at an easy pace.

The Avérole torrent acts as your guide throughout the journey. Fed by streams and glacial lakes that overlook the Lombarde valley, it's a refreshing place for both young and old to rest along the way. The trail, which is often playful and always well-maintained, encourages you to maintain your speed. Marmots whistle from distant hiding places, and who knows... there may be chamois up there in the shade of the cliffs, watching you as you go by. These grand, cinema-like landscapes fill you with energy. At this altitude on the south-facing slope, you feel the soft, warm caress of the sun on your face. What a strange feeling when you arrive at your destination! The torrent gently flowing through the village of Avérole is now a distant memory. Here at the shepherds' hut, it goes cascading down into a giant, boiling cauldron. The few hours you've spent hiking along the right bank suddenly feel like whole days of adventure.