Crossing the Vercors on snowshoes

Between the forests of the north and the wide open pastures of the south of the Vercors, this long winter traverse (6 days snowshoeing) offers a wide variety of landscapes. The result: little hidden corners of paradise and a complete change of scenery!
Itinerary :

D1/ Die - Corrençon-en-Vercors (1150m) - Auberge de Roybon (1300 m)
Welcome at 11:30 am at Die station. Transfer to Corrençon-en-Vercors. With snowshoes on, we hike up to the Pas de la Sambue and across the Herbouilly plain. First glimpses of the Hauts-Plateaux, alternating between open hay meadows and forest ridges. Our first accommodation is particularly well located.

Walking time: 3h. Difference in altitude: + 400m / - 200m
Night in gîte.

D2/ Auberge de Roybon - La Chapelle-en-Vercors (900 m)
Heading south, the Darbounouse clearing, the hay meadow of the farmers below, offers us the intimacy of the Hauts-Plateaux and the Nature Reserve. Hidden away on its slopes, Pot du Play allows us to snowshoe back to the valley of La Chapelle-en-Vercors and our welcoming hotel.

Walking time: 5h30. Difference in altitude: + 400m / - 850m
Night in hotel.

D3/ La Chapelle-en-Vercors - Vassieux-en-Vercors (1100 m)
A short morning transfer takes us to the Font-d'Urle karst plateau. As its name suggests, conditions here can be particularly difficult in bad weather. A ridge route offers splendid views over the Vallée de Quint, and the ascent of Puy de la Gagère takes us onto the Vassieux plateau.

Walking time: 4h30. Difference in altitude: + 300m / - 600m
Night in gîte.

D4/ Vassieux-en-Vercors - Col du Rousset (1250 m)
The cliffs of the southern Vercors plunge into the Clairette de Die region. Over the Col de Chironne, a summer pasture, the panorama takes us all the way to the Ventoux, and the natural Col de Rousset gives us access to the small family resort of the same name.

Walking time: 5h30. Difference in altitude: + 650m / - 450m
Overnight in a guesthouse.

D5/ Col du Rousset - Chaumailloux (1650 m)
A short transfer takes us to the crests of the Beure plateau and into the Nature Reserve. The multitude of itineraries allows us to progress on snowshoes through some of the wildest parts of the Hauts-Plateaux, with the Dévoluy massif, the Alps and Mont-Aiguille as a backdrop! We spend the evening in the old Chaumailloux sheepfold. Waking up in these landscapes takes us back to the days of the trappers!

Walking time: 6h. Altitude difference: + 750m / - 600m
Overnight in an unguarded refuge (no running water, dry toilets).

D6/ Chaumailloux - Combeau (1400 m)
The Vallon de Combeau, the final destination of our snowshoe traverse, can once again be approached via a variety of paths, and the feeling of isolation and unspoilt nature doesn't end until we reach the Auberge de Combeau.

Walking time: 5h. Difference in altitude: + 400m / - 650m
Transfer to Die station. Departure at 5pm.

Snow conditions on the Traversée du Vercors vary throughout the winter and are unpredictable. The walking times indicated above may be longer depending on the quantity and quality of the snow. When there's no snow, we'll still run this tour, because we're hikers first and foremost, and the landscapes of the Hauts-Plateaux are splendid in the winter light. In that case, you'll have to wear your snowshoes a little, or do without them sometimes... So make sure you have walking shoes in very good condition.ar jour.