Névache (France). It’s a place with special memories to me. Due to some people, due to some situations. I have been in the ‘Vallée de la Clarée’ two times before. The first time in 2003/2004 (but you won’t find any pictures of that trip on this site: I was too sick to carry the extra weight of my camera) and a second time in 2007, for a hike from Névache to the Queyras.
The Vallée de Clarée is a beautifull valley… Especially an untouched valley. No ski tracks, no electricity cables, only once in a while a house, a mountain hut (‘refuge’). During our hiking trip we only encountered about twenty people… Some on snow shoes, the rest on touring skis.
It wasn’t an easy hiking trip… Half of the time we were carrying a full backpack, accounting for about 10 kg (not including my camera, which is nearly 2 kg extra). Also the difference in altitude we had to conquer was more than modest: between 650 and 1000 meters. And then there was the weather: bitter cold! The first morning it was -22°C (-8°F). Later in the day it was of course warmer, but a strong wind delivered a lot of ‘wind chill’. Good technical clothing (especially wind resistant, warm and breathable) was really essential. Several times – especially when climbing – I asked myself why I’m doing this kind of trips… But look at the pictures and you’ll find the answer easily… This was my 10th hiking trip on snow shoes and definitely, without any doubt, the most impressive one…
The amount of pictures is very high. Even with a thorough selection, there are still 36 pictures in the gallery. And next to that, there is a gallery with 6 panoramas, composed of multiple pictures.
And here are the panoramas (6 pictures).
Eddy
