BIVOUAC IN VIÈRE, THE LOST VALLEY

Meet in front of the Auberge des Trois Évêchés restaurant in Prads-Haute-Bléone. From here, we'll head for "Les Eaux chaudes", 3 km to the north, where we'll park our vehicles. After a careful inventory of our bivouac equipment and the distribution of food supplies for the two days, we follow a winding trail until we cross the Tête du rocher troué, at 1700 meters altitude. In doing so, we'll pass through landscapes of unspoilt beauty, on a rarely-visited route. The descent takes us directly to Vière, at the confluence of two torrents. Here, we'll discover and explore the work of Richard Nonas. Water is plentiful here, so we can wash up before dinner and then bivouac with our heads in the stars - or, if you prefer, under the protective canopy of the restored chapel. Ascent + 570 m; - 560 m; 6 km; Overnight outdoors at 1200 m altitude.

After breakfast and tidying up the bivouac, we'll head up the Galèbre to its source at the foot of the Trois Évêchés massif. This moderately-paced day's hike will provide us with an opportunity to talk about the history of these valleys, discover the ever-exceptional landscapes and learn about the local flora and fauna. We'll make a long loop, passing through the abandoned hamlets of Pié Fourcha, L'Immerée and Saume longe. We'll then return to our starting point, ending the tour at 4pm in Prads-Haute-Bléone.

Ascent + 580 m ; - 590 m / 11 km. 6 hours walking approx.

We'll carry our gear for the 2 days + picnics for lunch + food for dinner and breakfast in the bivouac.

But let's not forget that we're setting off on a slightly autonomous hike. This covers a whole range of practices, including radically reducing the weight of your backpack, an area in which your guide is an expert and will advise you in advance. It's also a state of mind: For us, comfort means above all carrying a light rucksack, not carrying anything superfluous. Out of respect for nature, and for greater freedom, we prefer to keep luggage transport by vehicle to a minimum. If you follow our recommendations, your rucksack will weigh no more than 8 kg on departure. And because for us, conviviality is necessarily at the heart of our stays, all picnics and meals will be cooked together. Gourmets and gourmands, we prepare our meals with love, on site, using fresh, local and mostly organic produce - fruit, vegetables and fresh herbs, goat's cheese from our mountains. Tonic, tannic wines and refreshing rosé from the Galèbre, the torrent that runs at the foot of Vière. Aim for zero waste at the end of your stay.