Pic du Glacier Blanc
A varied, quiet introductory route in the unique setting of the Glacier Blanc!
With Sabrina, Emmanuel, Antonin et Pierre
A great team of motivated young people arrives from Tours and Paris for a weekend deep in the Ecrins: off to the Pic du Glacier Blanc!
After a few long hours on the road, the little troop is happy to finally stretch their legs. We climb to the Glacier Blanc hut on a pleasant path.
In June, when the sun rises early, the alarm stings a little. To have the best possible conditions, we start walking in the middle of the night. We reach the Glacier Blanc at daybreak. Out come the crampons and ice axes, and we rope up. The slow, steady pace is only disturbed by the few crevasses to step across with a slightly longer stride.
The radiant, moonless night gradually fades into a dawn that suddenly sets the majestic north face of the Barre des Ecrins ablaze. We have front-row seats to enjoy it.
We carry on over very firm snow to the ridge straddling the Romanche valley, where we discover a dizzying view over the Arsine glacier. The last part of this route is on mixed terrain, then on a magnificent snowy ridge. Everyone learns to climb in crampons, which sometimes screech on the rock. We come across lots of "little purple flowers" ;-)
The descent still requires concentration so as not to get tangled up while staying fluid. Here again everyone learns very quickly; we even take a slightly steeper shortcut. Further down, a beautiful snowfield just softened by the sun lets us practise stopping a slide on snow.
The variety of terrain and the magnificent setting make this route a perfect introduction at the start of the season. Thank you!
Photo gallery...