Day 3 - Summit of La Piolit
Full day snowshoe with picnic on the col (6 - 7 hrs)
This is a big but very rewarding day out up to the summit of La Piolit at 2484m.
This snow shoe walk starts off following the beautiful Rouanne valley from Ancelle. Then about half way up you start to climb, zig zagging through mixed forest with a view of a dramatic cliff face (Le Lauterat) across the valley.
Then as the woods start to thin you walk out on to open snow fields with magnificent views all around you. There are different routes to get to the summit, but the most popular is to go up to the col de la Pourachrere at 2173m.
As well as being a great picnic spot, this is also a good opt out point if anyone doesn't fancy going up to the top. You can sit and wait in the sunshine and enjoy the amazing views right over the Gapencais and Champsaur valleys.
Those who get to the summit will also see the Lac du Serre Poncon (biggest damned lake in Europe) in all its winter glory!
Then it is all down hill and on snow shoes you can slide, run, jump and generally have lots of fun getting down the mountain - the snow is very forgiving!
