Information: You will need to operate as an independent two (or three or four) for this trip. Flights and car travel to the camp site will need to be organised independently. Saying that, this is a great opportunity to be introduced to a new discipline… And it doesn’t have to feel has hard a Scottish Winter, so don’t be put off. The summits we have identified are easy and non technical and just require some new skills and techniques to be mastered… skills moving roped together and crevice rescue techniques. We can climb as two or three separate groups, together on the same route and watch out for each other. If this is for you, please get in touch with Jim as soon as possible so we can arrange the necessary learning. Experienced alpinists in the Club are also very welcome and there are harder routes to go at if you want… and one of the easier 4000m peaks – The Barre D’Ecrins (4101m)… There are a range of alpine grades on offer and the valley serves 4 huts so there are many options.

Plans may change with weather and glacier conditions but the plan is to get a couple of summits in from the huts, heading up Saturday 27th and returning to the valley on Monday or Tuesday… A few days in the valley to rest or to take on any of the numerous sport crags that surround the camp site. I’m booked to fly out of Geneva on Friday lunchtime.

For those who have no interest in the summits, the rock climbing is an attraction in its own right and many come here just to sport climb. There is a developing bouldering scene too. The huts offer good day walk targets and many spend the time walking the hut routes or the valleys. There are also via ferrata routes here. Literally, something for everyone.

There was a Club trip here in 2017… you may want check the photos on the Club Flickr page…

Services: Alifroide offers a supermarket, cash machines and restaurants and bars. There are a few kit shops but you really want to bring everything you need with you. Options to hire kit are limited (with the exception of via ferrata).

Accommodation: The camp site is huge and booking is never a problem… website here https://ailefroide.fr/camping/  It is less than €10 a day per person and they used to do a deal where if you showed them your hut receipt, then they would refund part of the fee… It is good just to park up and leave the tent all set up.

For the huts, the two most likely used huts are Du Glacier Blanc and Ecrins…

https://refugeduglacierblanc.ffcam.fr/

https://refugedesecrins.ffcam.fr/

Currently, there is no facility to book ahead and typically, this is available early next year… Once we know who is attending and firm up an itinerary, then we can make a single group booking.

Food: I generally take some trail food options (because I’m fussy) but the supermarket was good enough last time (2017)… There are enough cheap eating out options in the village for most tastes…

Transport: The nearest airports are Genoble – 3 hours, Geneva – 4 hours and Turin (in Italy) about 3 hours if you factor in the drive up and over and possible border chaos for Brexitiers… Hire car to the camp site is probably the obvious solution…

BA have a LHR to GVA flight available to book now.

Dates: Meet at the camp site (see accommodation) on the evening of Friday 26th July 2024… climbing until Thursday 1st August 2024 and flying out on Friday 2nd August 2024.

Organiser: Jim McCall