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We came here on a cloudy and breezy (and hence cold) day having abandonned our original route to find it a popular place for locals to visit at the weekend - despite the restaurants being shut.
Our destination was the ridge beyond the top right in the picture and the Lake below it. On the left is the Pic de Jallouvre (which has a via ferrata up it) with the Pointe Blanche to its right
The start of the route can be seen in the first pic and continues up very obviously as befits its popularity
After about an hour the destination of most of the walkers is reached - Lac de Payre - although there are several small lakes in the area - all with picnickers relaxing by them
For us though it's onwards and upwards
Looking back down the route with the Mont Blanc range behind
You can just make out the ascent path on the left going towards the lower cliffs of Pt Blanche and the Col de Balagasse - with 4 walkers on the ridge
The ridge isn't quite a knife edge and there's an easy path all the way but the drop-offs on both sides are exhilerating - this is taken from the Pt de Balafrasse at 2296m the highest point on the ridge.
Friendly Alpine Choughs will eat anything you leave
The Aig Verte with the Dru in front is the centre background. The ridge in front was our intended route but when we got to the start it was in shade, very frosty and with black clouds on it. Three hours later, as you can see, it had cleared - our summit was to have been the one on the left - the Pointe d'Areu
