Summer Alpine Meet (The Ecrins)

[Steve Bowker]

DATES;- 14TH JULY TO 5TH AUGUST (& BEYOND)
THE VENUE;- AILEFROIDE CAMPGROUND; AT APPROX 1500M AND SITUATED VIRTUALLY AT THE END OF THE GYRONDE VALLEY WHEN APPROACHING FROM BRIANCON AND ARGENTIERE LA BESSEE (AND ABOUT 40KM FROM BRIANCON).
TRAVEL/ ACCESS- WHILE THE MAJORITY WILL NO DOUBT DRIVE, ITS POSSIBLE TO FLY TO TURIN AND COMPLETE THE JOURNEY BY BUS OR HIRE CAR, OR ALTERNATIVELY BY EUROSTAR/TGV TO BRIANCON, IT WOULD HELP SAVE THE PLANET IF FOLK TRY TO CAR SHARE WHERE POSSIBLE (YOU DID COME TO KEVIN ANDERSON’S LECTURE RECENTLY, DIDN’T YOU?)
THE CAMPING IS VERY RELAXED AND INFORMAL, QUITE RUSTIC AND SPREAD OVER A LARGE AREA WITH OPTIONS OF ‘OPEN MEADOW’ OR SHADY FOREST LOCATIONS WITH THE VILLAGE JUST A SHORT WALK AWAY WITH CAFES, EATERIES & GEAR SHOPS. ITS WELL SUITED TO BOTH TENTS AND CAMPERVANS AND THERES NO NEED TO BOOK. PRICES ARE VERY REASONABLE AT AROUND EU7 PER PERSON
VALLEY CLIMBING;- LOTS OF VALLEY CLIMBING ACCESSIBLE ON FOOT – SOME OF IT EASILY VISIBLE FROM THE CAMPSITE FOR THOSE PREFERRING ARMCHAIR ENTERTAINMENT
ALPINE CLIMBING- NOTHING LIKE THE SAME RANGE OF HIGH & LOW ALTITUDE ROCK AS CHAMONIX BUT THE HEART OF THE RANGE, INCLUDING THE BARRE DES ECRINS IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE LARGE PARKING AREA ABOUT 5KM UP THE VALLEY AT PRE DE MME CARLE ALSO ACCESSIBLE BY REGULAR BUS FROM THE VILLAGE), ALTERNATIVELY YOU COULD DRIVE (OR BUS) ROUND TO LA BERADE- THE WESTERN PORTAL TO THE RANGE AND LOCATION OF LOTS OF SPORT CRAGS THE ATTRACTIVE AIG DIBONA AND ACCESS TO THE MEJE, PIC SANS NOM & SIALOUZE.
OTHER STUFF TO DO;
LOCAL VIA FERRATA’S THERES SOME A SHORT DISTANCE DOWN THE VALLY, AND EVEN A 680M LONG ONE AT CROIX DE TOULOUSE JUST OUTSIDE BRIANCON!
EXPLORE THE LOCAL ATTRACTIVE VILLAGES; VALLOUISE HAS A WEEKLY THURSDAY MARKET (PLUS ATM)
HUT WALKS & TREKKING;- GLACIER BLANC HUT,REFUGE DU PRE DE LA CHAUMETTE & GR54, REFUGE DES BANS, SEE KEV REYNOLDS GUIDE; ‘100 HUT WALKS IN THE ALPS’ OR TRY SEARCHING; http://rando.ecrins-parcnational.fr/en/ FOR MORE IDEAS
CYCLING- HEAD DOWN TO BRIANCON TO PICK UP THE RN91 OVER THE COL DU LAUTERET WITH ACCESS TO ALL THOSE INFAMOUS SICK ASCENTS;- L’ ALPES- ‘D HUEZ, DEUX ALPES, COL DU GALIBIER ETC.
MOUNTAIN BIKING- IS BANNED WITHIN THE ECRINS NATIONAL PARK BUT THERES LOTS OF OPTIONS DOWN NEAR BRIANCON, SEE THIS VID; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZeLVulMHfo INCLUDING THE SERE CHEVALIER BIKE PARK WITH LOTS OF MECHANICAL UPLIFT AND ROUTES TO SUIT ALL GRADES
I’LL POST A LIST OF ATTENDEES WITH DATES SHORTLY FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED TO ADD THEIR DETAILS.
STEVE B.

[Steve Bowker]

More Summer Alpine/Ailefroide;- Sport climbing (outside of the mountain areas) and on a variety of rock types;- ‘Briancon Rock Climbs’ covers a range of crags just down the valley;-

Popular Crags in the Durance Valley, Hautes Alps
Crag Nearest Town Type of rock No. of Routes Max Height Grade range Best Season
Rocher Baron Briancon Quartz 60 20m F3 – F7c Spring
Plampinet Plampinet Limestone 90 40m F4c – F7b+ May to October
Mont Dauphin Fort Guillestre Conglomerate 75 40m F3c – F8a+ May to November
Ailefroide Vallouise Granite 160+ 400m F3 – F8b April to November
Fessourier Vallouise Limestone 34 40m F6a – F7c May to October
Clapeyto Arvieux Limestone 40 250m F4b – F6c May to October
La Grande Falaise Freissiniers Limestone 140 150m F5 – F8c March to November
Le Ponteil Champcella Limestone 60 200m F5c – F7c+ March to November
Les Traverses Vallouise Limestone 130 35m F4c – F8b+ All Year
Le Pouit Champcella Limestone 70 80m F4c – 7c+ All Year

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