{"id":14942,"date":"2026-01-23T17:00:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T16:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/?p=14942"},"modified":"2025-12-16T13:43:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T12:43:11","slug":"devoluy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/devoluy-2\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Devoluy (2)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nWhile preparing our exploration of the D\u00e9voluy massif, I spotted several \u00ab\u00a0chourum\u00a0\u00bb &#8211; the local name for sinkholes, these limestone cavities sometimes forming caves &#8211; and we decided to go and discover one.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n1. Going up from our camp&#8230;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0724_sb_b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"605\" height=\"444\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0724_sb_b.jpg 605w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0724_sb_b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0724_sb_b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n2. 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.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0718_sb_b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0718_sb_b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0718_sb_b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0718_sb_b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n3. On the descent back towards VivaLaVida, looking up towards the Bure Plateau.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0729b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0729b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0729b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0729b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n4. 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.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0730b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0730b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0730b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0730b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n5. VivaLaVida at the end of the road, at about 8,200 feet elevation.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0740b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0740b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0740b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0740b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n6. The clouds are starting to gather but we still attempt to pass through \u00ab\u00a0the Window\u00a0\u00bb to discover the interferometer on the Bure Plateau.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0734b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0734b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0734b-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0734b-300x194.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n7. After a short hour&rsquo;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.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0738b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"415\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0738b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0738b-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0738b-300x192.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n8. 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.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0736b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0736b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0736b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0736b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n9. We descend to about 6,500 feet to spend our last night of the holiday in VLV. The view is gorgeous.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0742b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"436\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0742b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0742b-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0742b-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n10. Last dream campsite.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0745b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14896\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0745b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0745b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0745b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n11. Sun is setting&#8230;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0749b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"465\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0749b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0749b-140x100.jpg 140w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0749b-300x215.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n12. &#8230; and we make a final campfire to cook our supper.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0755_sb_b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0755_sb_b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0755_sb_b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0755_sb_b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n13. This twilight concludes the story of VLV&rsquo;s wanderings in the year 2025.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0750b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0750b.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0750b-136x100.jpg 136w, https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A1_0750b-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThank 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&#8230; \ud83d\ude42<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; While preparing our exploration of the D\u00e9voluy massif, I spotted several \u00ab\u00a0chourum\u00a0\u00bb &#8211; the local name for sinkholes, these limestone cavities sometimes forming caves &#8211; and we decided to go and discover one. &nbsp; 1. Going up from our camp&#8230; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2. Arrival at the Chourum of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/devoluy-2\/?lang=en\" class=\"read-more\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1139],"tags":[1142,1207,1942,1939,1935,1135,208,1940,1941,47],"class_list":["post-14942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-france-en","tag-alps","tag-boondocking","tag-bure-plateau","tag-chourum","tag-devoluy","tag-france-en","tag-mountain","tag-plateau-de-bure","tag-skinhole","tag-sunset"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14942"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14947,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14942\/revisions\/14947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.instants-choisis.ch\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}