Barre des Ecrins (4101m) is located in the Massif D’Oisans which benefits from 300 days of sunshine a year. The grade of the normal route on the mountain is PD+ and it is the southernmost of the alpine 4000m peaks. The grade range of this course will be PD to AD.
Dates: June, July, August, September.
Ratio: 1:2
Who’s it for: The Barre des Ecrins is achievable for mountaineers who have some alpine experience or experience of terrain such as that completed on the ‘Winter Mountaineering-Ridges and Gullies’ course.
| WHAT’S INCLUDED | WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED |
|---|---|
| Instruction/Guiding | Insurance (essential) |
| Harnesses, helmets | Crampons, ice axe, boots (can be hired in Chamonix) |
| Personal hut fees and valley accommodation on a half board basis | Accommodation in Chamonix |
| Transport from Chamonix and during the course | Uplift (not normally required on this course) |
| Guides hut fees, lunches, uplift and accommodation | Personal lunches, drinks and drinks at huts |
Sample program
Day 1: Meet in Chamonix. Hire/Check equipment. Following this, we drive to La Berarde and ascend to the Refuge Temple Ecrins.
Day 2: From the hut, we climb Pic Collidge (PD, 3775m). This peak gives a great view of the south side of the Barre. Following a return to the hut for lunch we continue down to the valley and overnight in Bourg d’Oisans.
Day 3: Following breakfast, we continue round to the Ailefroide valley. On the way, we complete a Via Ferrata or a multi-pitch rock climb before ascending to the Refuge Glacier Blanc (2542m).
Day 4: We ascend Montagne des Agneaux (AD-, 3664m) from the Refuge. Return is by the same route. After lunch, we continue to the Refuge Ecrins.
Day 5: From the Refuge, we climb the Barre Des Ecrins (4101m).
Day 6: Four possibilities exist. After the ascent of the Barre Des Ecrins, we can overnight at one of the mountain huts and ascend Roche Faurio (3730m ,F+) or Pointe Louise ( 3668m, AD). The other two options involve returning to the valley at the end of day 5 and completing a multi-pitch rock climb or a Via Ferrata.
Other possible objectives
- The rock climbs of Ailefroide which range in height from 1 pitch to 20.
- The Refuge du Sele and L’Ailefroide Oriental (3847m)
- The Refuge du Pelvoux and Mont Pelvoux (3943m)
- The Refuge de la Pillate and Mont Gioberney (3352m)
- The Refuge du Soreiller and the Aiguille Dibona (3131m)
