We had had a year off, but were back with a vengeance this time, and had arranged to spend two weeks in the Ecrins ... It had been a long time since I had been there and only then in the Summer. After our successes the previous years with the 4000 m peaks in Switzerland and Italy, we thought that it would be a good aim to make an attempt on the Barre, after a week getting fit, and also give us some leeway with the weather. In addition we would try and make use of the long Easter weekend hoping to avoid the congestion.
So far we had mainly been based in Chamonix for these Spring trips, as we knew the area and had excellent access to available knowledge of the snow conditions. I had also picked up some persuasive arguments that we should try a place called La Grave, known for having one long gondola lift and no pisted runs.
Additionally we would try using Gite based accommodation rather than tents, but having no real idea of how to do it other than turning up and asking for space, this was the model to follow.
We (Bryon, and I , with Derek - along for his first trip with us apart from the Christmas skiing) caught the overnight ferry and drove down to La Grave, arriving around lunch time. We struck lucky with the first (and only gite then) in La Grave (Gite le Refuge) in the place de l'eglise, and there was space available for us, for 5 nights (up till the long weekend when a large party had pre-booked), after which it would be fully occupied. Chris would drive down the next day, on his own, from is parents-in-law where he and his family had been visiting to meet us - thanks to the new technology of mobile phones we could tick-tack where we were.
The Gite was compact and bijou in the centre of the old town above the main road ... there was one room laid out much like a bunkhouse - so somewhere we understood and knew how to operate.
On the way up to La Grave we passed a waterfall to the side of the road and during the afternoon we went back to visit it.
The next day we would go and see what all the fuss was about this small resort.
So far we had mainly been based in Chamonix for these Spring trips, as we knew the area and had excellent access to available knowledge of the snow conditions. I had also picked up some persuasive arguments that we should try a place called La Grave, known for having one long gondola lift and no pisted runs.
Additionally we would try using Gite based accommodation rather than tents, but having no real idea of how to do it other than turning up and asking for space, this was the model to follow.
We (Bryon, and I , with Derek - along for his first trip with us apart from the Christmas skiing) caught the overnight ferry and drove down to La Grave, arriving around lunch time. We struck lucky with the first (and only gite then) in La Grave (Gite le Refuge) in the place de l'eglise, and there was space available for us, for 5 nights (up till the long weekend when a large party had pre-booked), after which it would be fully occupied. Chris would drive down the next day, on his own, from is parents-in-law where he and his family had been visiting to meet us - thanks to the new technology of mobile phones we could tick-tack where we were.
The Gite was compact and bijou in the centre of the old town above the main road ... there was one room laid out much like a bunkhouse - so somewhere we understood and knew how to operate.
On the way up to La Grave we passed a waterfall to the side of the road and during the afternoon we went back to visit it.The next day we would go and see what all the fuss was about this small resort.
| | | ||
| | | Arrive La Grave | |
| La Grave | | | |
| | | Pic Blanc | |
| Les Deux Alps | | | |
| | | La Berade | |
| Moving Day | | | |
| | | Rain Day | |
| Croix de Toulouse | | | |
| | | Aiguilette de Lauzette | |
| Sommet du Prorel | | | |
| | | Barre des Ecrins | |
| Barre des Ecrins | | | |
| | | Gorge du Durrance | |
| Clot de la Silva | | | |
| | | Go Home |