Starting from signpost #411, we headed north using the trail on the eastern side of the river. There’s a trail on the other side, too. Both merge after about 1,3 km (footbridge). We passed signpost #414 and the trail to Lac Authier. After this, our trail became steeper and rockier. Some stretches felt rockier than before. We passed the Wall of the Italians (Mur des Italiens) dating from the 15th Century when the trail functioned as a secondary salt route to Piemonte. It’s hard to understand which trail they took after this. None of the options were easy.

After the wall, a short easier and flatter part followed, but soon we were climbing steeply again.  In fact, we had never before climbed this trail, only descended a  few times after having done the loop via Lac Authier.

The dam of Lac de la Fous became visible. We merged with the GR52 trail at signpost #416. The old trail followed the shoreline of the lake. It now disappeared under water and there were apparently new rockslides. The new route followed the rocky slope a bit higher before turning towards the refuge. We continued a bit further, about halfway to Lac Niré for our break and picnic. We were under Mont Clapier (3045 m), the southernmost 3000+ peak of the Alps.