While preparing our exploration of the Dévoluy massif, I spotted several “chourum” – the local name for sinkholes, these limestone cavities sometimes forming caves – and we decided to go and discover one.
 
1. Going up from our camp…
 

 
 
2. Arrival at the Chourum of the Heroic Crossing from above. A group of mountain troops in training is climbing it, little black dots which give a sense of the scale of this vast chimney.
 

 
 
3. On the descent back towards VivaLaVida, looking up towards the Bure Plateau.
 

 
 
4. In the afternoon, we drive in VLV above the Super-Devoluy resort to get closer to Bure Plateau. The view opens up to the surrounding mountains.
 

 
 
5. VivaLaVida at the end of the road, at about 8,200 feet elevation.
 

 
 
6. The clouds are starting to gather but we still attempt to pass through “the Window” to discover the interferometer on the Bure Plateau.
 

 
 
7. After a short hour’s walk, a few breaks in the fog give us a glimpse of the site. Located at an altitude of 8,350 feet, the interferometer consists of 11 large-diameter parabolic antennas working together; it is the largest installation of its kind in Europe.
 

 
 
8. The scientists who work here in four-month shifts are particularly isolated during the winter, sometimes drawing comparisons to the missions of scientists in Antarctica. Only a private cable car serves the plateau, which suffered a serious accident in 1999 when the haul rope broke, killing 20 people.
 

 
 
9. We descend to about 6,500 feet to spend our last night of the holiday in VLV. The view is gorgeous.
 

 
 
10. Last dream campsite.
 

 
 
11. Sun is setting…
 

 
 
12. … and we make a final campfire to cook our supper.
 

 
 
13. This twilight concludes the story of VLV’s wanderings in the year 2025.
 

 
 
Thank you all for continuing to follow this little blog in such large numbers. It ends here for 2025 but will resume next summer with new discoveries… 🙂