We took the opportunity to do a little exploring and reconnaissance.
The next valley West from the Col D'Izoard, led up to the col des Ayes, and there was a parking spot at the chalets des Ayes. We parked there and went for a walk.
We headed up the GR5 towards the col where after a couple of kilometres, there was a track leading around tot the right ... 
We took this track as a way to get back to van. the track lead around the wooded hilltop in a big curve, to get to the other valley which forked from the parking lot.
We dropped into the new valley and followed the forest trails back to the van.The next day we packed up the apartment and headed back to the channel a couple of days early.
End of another year's trip