The Massif des Écrins

Starting from Madame Carle meadow (1850 m - 6070 feet) skiing and then carry up to 2 400 meters. We put our skis back on to the refuge of Le Glacier Blanc. Pauline has served us gargantuan plates of pasta bolognese that need a short rest and games of football table. Around 5 o’clock pm we left for the refuge of Les Écrins (3 170 m) for a night of sleep. On may the 19th, waking up at 4 am for a 5 am departure. Once on the glacier, we put the skins and crossed the glacier with fantastic lights over the dome of Les Écrins and a beautiful sunrise on Les Agneaux. 1-3 cm of fresh snow on the glacier, a pleasure sliding. Arrival at the foot of the face weather turned, so we decided to wait a moment and then continue to climb to Le col des Écrins (3 300 m) . The front will not clear, we decide to fall back on La Roche Faurio (3 730 m). Just gone, we hear a serac fall on the face of the Dôme Des Écrins, we really made the right decision. The descent to the Roche Faurio was very nice. After due to a skin problem for Pierre and hiking recalcitrant lock for Sébastien we had to put the ski on back packs and climb the face. After a significant effort we arrive on the ridge with a strong wind forcing us to ridging quickly down the face in a difficult snow. The descent of the glacier was a real treat. The test was very informative and helped validate multiple point of the binding but we have to improve the binding to secure the touring lock.