Just me and Maria, since Mike and Steven both have leg injures… An epic drive through Denmark, Germany and France saw us arrive at La Berarde. The campsite was great (no booking required and they won’t charge you the nights you can present a hut payment) and La Berarde is recommended as a destination. The road up the valley was exciting… 4 accidents and one fatality this Summer…
Arrived La Berarde Saturday early evening and walked up to La Pilatte Hut (2577m) on Sunday morning, with clear skies then rain. Arrived wet but the guardian put the radiators on for us and let us dry our kit. This was the friendliest hut I have ever stay in, in France.
Took the wrong path, (my fault!) got lost in the dark, returned to the hut, took the right path… Crossed the steep but safe Glacier du Gioberney and made the Col Du Gioberney (3238m) but a bit late for the summit with the poor weather rolling back in.
Used Tuesday as a travel day around to L’Ailefroide since it was due to rain all day. A stop at the Tourist Information on the road out of La Berarde and they booked us in the Refuge du Glacier Blanc. Stayed at the campsite (again recommended). Wednesday we left the car and some kit at the campsite and hitched up the road. Hitching was easy (5 minutes) as everyone was going our way. Walked up to the Refuge du Glacier Blanc (2542m), then walked further to the Gacier Blanc and spent the afternoon wandering around crevasses and practicing our rope techniques.
Thursday and we left the hut at 06:00am (after sunrise). We reached the summit of Le Pic du Glacier d’Arsine (3368m) at 09:15am, taking the steep ice ramp (Scottish Grade I) and the NW ridge, without ropes. This was Maria’s first Alpine summit and the visibility and weather were perfect. Descended the same way (roped) then used a series of glissades (great fun!) to descend to 3000m. Maria proved ever lucky and found two ice axes… she kept the pink one to match her gloves… A quick stop at the hut for lunch and then a run down the path to the waiting car park. Another easy hitch hike out (the 2nd car picked us up) then a return to camp.
Friday, we checked out the climbing shops and then went sport climbing in L’Ailefroide. We went sport climbing on Saturday morning as well. Then after lunch, headed back down to start the epic drive back. This time though France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany, to make it home Sunday evening…Le bivouac du Autoban providing the necessary break.
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Jim
