Chalet ONF de Val Froide

The place

Sleeping places: 6 - decent insulation (see bohwaz's report on this hut's restoration), so cut enough wood if you don't want to be cold! I'll remind you of the name: Valfroide! - crockery - table, benches - tools available (axes, saw, shovel, pick, scythe, hammer) - stove - wood very close by - dry toilets! to be confirmed. - very wild location (no one goes there, given the access :) there are often deer right outside! - near a river (for washing dishes) - summary: a magnificent place to respect, maintain and improve to keep it alive! Notes from Nathanaël, 20/11/2017: The bridge over the river was in place and the path up to the hut had been maintained (apparently by local hunters)... there are still a few decent ravines to cross on the sidehill, so sure footing helps! Addition by bohwaz (2019): Otherwise, on access: - the path is no longer on the new IGN maps - allow 2h-2h30 to climb from the Entraigues car park - the bridge was swept away by the torrent, you have to wade across the stream (so wet feet, not a problem, the flow was fairly low, but be careful depending on the season) - it isn't possible to simply follow the torrent up from Entraigues (avalanche debris and snow patches cut off access) - the path is in relatively good condition, aside from the ravines to cross, none particularly dangerous (no cliff below, but quite a tumble if you slip!), but it may be a bit tricky for people afraid of heights (like me ^^). Access description: 1. From the car park follow the 4x4 track to the place called "la Montaz" (30 minutes); at the direction sign for "la Montaz" there is an unmarked path to the right, follow it (3 ravines to cross). 2. After about an hour (from the car park) you descend to the torrent and the small broken bridge, cross it (during snowmelt it may not be passable if you pass late in the day). 3. Climb back up on the opposite side on the path (many ravines to cross). 4. After about 45 minutes, past a ravine partly fitted out with cut logs and iron bars, you reach a huge rock fallen into the valley that blocks the torrent flowing below (not hard to spot, it's huge!); just after this rock, the path descends to the torrent. 5. At this point I recommend continuing along the torrent bed, crossing it if needed, which avoids having to go around fallen trees on the path and yet another ravine, especially since the path descends into the torrent 100 metres further on. 6. Continue in the torrent bed to the Valney stream (on the right), follow the stream up until you find a spot to climb the bank. 7. Follow the bank until you find the path to the hut (post with a wooden arrow). Be careful not to miss the Valney stream, the hut is not…