A full, chilly day out from Val Thorens, heading for Lac de Pierre Blanche (2,304 m) above Lac du Lou (2,005 m) in Les Menuires.
We set off from Val Thorens with 2 cm of snow on the roofs and a temperature of −2°C at 9 am! The weather is fine and the scenery looks magnificent. We keep our plan, but add a few extra items to our backpacks.
The Cascades lift station and Cime Caron emerge from the mist as the sunshine warms us. We head for the Lac du Lou trail at the bottom of Val Thorens, beside the Boismint chairlift departure point. A signpost stands 50 m higher up on the right-hand side of the piste.
The first path follows the mountainside over stone and earth. In summer, you can pick wild blueberries and hear marmots whistle — you may spot them if you stay quiet. The trail descends all the way to our first stop at Lac du Lou.
A mountain refuge awaits, where you can admire the lake, rest and enjoy something to eat and drink before continuing.
The climb to Lac de Pierre Blanche requires stamina and is considerably more demanding. Although the trail is clearly marked, there is almost 300 m of ascent on the slopes above Lac du Lou.
At the end of the day, we return from Lac du Lou along the same trail, this time climbing 300 m back to the lower part of Val Thorens.
The full day totals 15 km and 800 m of ascent. Fortunately, Le Board in Val Thorens offers a sauna, steam room and cold baths to unwind after a good day’s walking!
