Join Dan and Jim to a trip to Aliefroide in the Ecrins for alpine, sport, bouldering and hiking… Something for everyone. Plan to arrive Saturday and stay at the campsite. Walk up to the hut on Sunday morning for glacier practice and then a Monday ascent. Stay at the hut Monday and get a second summit in from the same hut on the Tuesday, before descending back to the campsite for R & R.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday can be for sport climbing and bouldering. Aliefroide has an abundance of single pitch and multi-pitch bolted routes, which are accessible walking from the campsite. The inevitable bouldering is available throughout the valley.

There is already some interest to this trip and members looking to have a first alpine experience should contact Jim early on, so coverage is guaranteed. There is kit to arrange and/or buy and there are crevasse rescue techniques which need mastering before departure. Planned routes will be non-technical Facile (easy) graded summits between 3300m to 3600m with glacial approach and some easy rockwork. There are more challenging summits also available. Experienced members may wish to operate as an independent team of two and arrange their own objectives.

In addition, there are plenty of walking trails to keep anyone busy for a week. The Club will seek to buy a map of the area. Again, get in touch early so that we can pair members up to like activities.

Accommodation:

Staying at the campsite in Aliefroide. The website for the campsite is http://www.ailefroide.fr/camping/ and includes rates… currently just over €7.00 a night. Plans to stay in the Glacier Blanc hut for the summit bids and the website is here https://refugeduglacierblanc.ffcam.fr/home.html Opportunity to book places on the website will become available.

Services:

Aliefroide has basic services, some shops and some eateries… best to arrive with the essentials. Most places take cards but some do insist on cash. Everyone will travel through Briancon on the way so wise to stop off there if you need anything.

Travel:

Fly to Grenoble and then a three hour drive to the campsite. There will be a need to hire cars so arrange this with others please. Do not just expect there to be a space reserved for you. Once at the campsite, all rock climbing is a walk away. The hour walk up to the valley head and carpark to walk up to the hut is an easy hitch hike if we want to leave the car at the tents.

Meet:

Aim to be at the campsite Saturday 15.08.2020.