Description

Bonneval is a pretty village and in the winter feels very remote, as it lies at the end of the valley.

It has a few ski lifts that access high N facing terrain, so you can always have a warm up day on these to get the ski legs going the day before.

Or if you are very keen you could do a morning on the lifts and approach the hut in the afternoon.

This would only be suitable if you are very fit and in cold weather, as the hut approach is S facing and therefore can be dangerous is warm conditions. From Bonneval walk or skin, depending on the snow cover, to the charming hamlet of Ecot.

When I was here this was walking carrying skis, as was most of the approach to the hut, the only consolation being the carpets of spring flowers which surround you on your journey.

Take the N valley split just beyond here and at about 2140m strike up the steeper hillside that climbs N, past some summer chalets at about 2400m.

At 2500m, angle NE, passing just to the L of pt 2614m, then more steeply in the final approach to the Carro Hut at 2759m.

Some choose to spend a second night here, with an acclimatisation peak, carrying lighter bags on the intervening day.

A suitable objective might be Levanna Occidentale at 3593m.

The Carro Hut is very friendly, usually not too crowded and has a wild and remote feeling to it.

Another possible approach to the hut is from the Val d'Isère lift system, from the W.

This has less ascent, but is logistically harder as you are coming from a different valley.