Pete's Blog - Week 3(c)
The valley leading up to the col du Palet ( 2652m and our next refuge ) was full of hydro-electric schemes: one huge waterfall disappeared into a pipe! There was plenty of snow and fog around as we approached the col and navigation wasn't easy. The lovely hot stove in the refuge was very welcome as we relaxed for the evening.
This next dawned with blues skies so that the final snowy climb up to the actual col was easy! The scenery at the col was, as usual, magnificent but we soon caught sight of some of the many ski lifts that abounded in the area. Our first sight of the ski resort of Val Claret ( 2100m ) in the valley below was a bit of a shock but we soon left it behind as we made  for the col de la Leisse ( 2756m - one of the highest points of the whole walk ). We did, however, find our first vanilla orchids as we dropped into Val Claret. We were now walking at quite high levels and there were many shattered rocky areas  with only a few plants clinging where they could. We actually managed to relax in the sun by the Lac des Nettes before reaching the refuge de la Leisse(2487m.)