CIRQUE DE TROUMOUSE
Contributed by David Sellars
FACTS
Country: France
Location: SE of Gedre
Round trip: 3 km
Start elevation: 2100 m
Final Elevation: 2200 m
Maps: 1:30,000 Editorial Alpina Monte Perdido
GETTING THERE
From Gedre drive southeast on a paved road. At about 1800 m the road becomes a toll road. Drive to the parking lot at 2100 m.
PARTIAL PLANT LIST
Saxifraga longifiolia
Saxifraga paniculata
Globularia repens
Saxifraga moschata
Saxifraga aretioides
Viola biflora
Silene acaulis
Gentiana verna
Primula farinosa
Pinguicula grandiflora
The Cirque de Troumouse is an outstanding glacial cirque with a ring of limestone cliffs surrounding beautiful green meadows. Access to the cirque is easy via a paved toll road that climbs to 2100 m. On leaving the large parking area head south across the green short tuf ignoring the wide trail to Lacs des Aires. Contour around the cirque passing several small streams with Gentiana verna and Primula farinosa and head for an area of limestone rockfall. It is distinguishable from the relatively smooth glaciated topography by the large craggy limestone boulders left in glorious chaos on the floor of the cirque.
The crevices of the limestone boulders are the home of Saxifraga longifiolia, Saxifraga paniculata and Globularia repens. If you look hard enough you will find the yellow flowers of Saxifraga aretioides and Viola biflora in the limestone rocks. There is plenty of topography to explore before returning to the parking area.
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CIRQUE DE TROUMOUSE GALLERY AND VIDEO
The photos were taken on July 9, 2009
Click the arrows to start the slideshow or click on an image to expand.
