Lac du Saint Guerin

Another bright clear but very, very cold day...  Steph, Lloyd and I set off for the road out of Areches towards Lac du Saint Guerin. From last year we knew we could park just after the barrier and then walk up the road to the lake. Then we would see what else to do.

The roadside was in shadow and still freezing when we got ready, so the initial start was tempered by cold hands - mine were cold all the way to the lake! We set off up the road to the point where the snow plough had stopped, however we chose to keep walking as there was another bare patch a little way up the road.

Skins on after the second bare patch then we continued up the road, passing the lonely farmhouse and the water gallery entrance.

Just below the bend into L'Ami hamlet we saw the top of the tepee remembered from last year.

Then around the corner and there was now two and the chapel.
A pause in the sun while we looked at the houses and the slope above where we would climb up to short-cut a zigzag on the road.

We climbed up the open pasture above that cuts the corner of the road hairpins below the dam. This was really broken up by postholes from people walking up. This was a case of finding the smoothest way up.

Back on the road we continued on it - padding across a few bare patches.

We continued up to the dam, close to the car park the track was a narrow looking over the side to the bottom of the dam.

Arriving at the car park - seeing the lake in full glory as last time it was in low cloud.

A short pause in the parking area to decide the path onwards. there was one around the lake and another followed the road over a rocky outcrop.
My hands had finally thawed out and would be warm for a while.

We set off the upper road which led up to the outcrop, however we needed to carry the skis up to a junction where the snow started again.

As we worked up the road through the rocky outcrop past some impressive icefalls.

At the highest point we then realised it dropped down the other side for a while. This dropped until it met the path coming around the lake and up the stream. We had to take the skis off here as the road was bare.

We continued along the road as it diverted to the col and refuges. After climbing a rise we paused for lunch - we would not reach the refuges or the col. The track continued up to the refuges and opposite was the path that led up to the Grand Mont ridge.

up the ridge behind us

Looking over to Grand Mont.

Down the same way (although we cut a couple of zigzags) carrying the skis as we knew we had to climb up the road again.

Carrying the skis down to the bare road, then walking up to the high point.

Skis on at the top and down the icy covered road back to just above the dam.

Then walked down to the car park.

Down the road (we did not take the meadow shortcut but stayed on the road) back to l'Ami and continuing further on the road.

We took the skis off on a couple of places, and walked over a couple more places, but generally snow ploughed down the icy surface.

Back to the car waiting, and warming up my fingers, which had got cold again on the descent.