Le Rabel/ Roche Olvera, France

The skies were clear again, and this would be our last day here, so we wanted to get out.

After our little tour the other day around the Roche Olvera Bryon and I had eyed up a slope we thought we could go up to the top.

So off to our favourite parking spot, from where we set off up the route to the col de Galibier.

As we climbed up the first slope, with good views back down the valley.

As we got to the top of the initial slopes we cut up right to the ridge line we could see above us.

The main problem we encountered was that the slope was south facing, and we had not made allowance for the heat in the sun.

As we got higher on the slope we started to get problems with the snow pack, and we started to worry about the adhesion, and potential avalanche risk.

So we turned around ...  this was a good idea as we dropped down the snow was also very soft and the "splendid" lower slopes were a bit heavy, and did not trouble our memories from earlier in the week.

Back at the van we reflected on a frustrating day, but we had learned some good lessons, and should have been up earlier.

Tomorrow we would head back home

Via Ferrata Poingt Ravier, France

Back at the apartment we soon got bored in the hot afternoon.

On the other side of the valley to the via Ferrata we had been on earlier in the week, was a chapel high on a hill. Looking at the map we saw that there was a small road leading up to it.

We quickly came up with a plan to walk up to the chapel and then come back down the Via Ferrata .. a much easier one than last time.

Getting up to the chapel was simple, but finding the start of the via Ferrata was much harder...  eventually we found the start and set off down.

A good excursion to fill an afternoon.

Via Ferrata Poingt Ravier
Graded PD (not very difficult), for every levels from the age of 7.
Length: 500 m - Variation in level: 200 m (from 1430 m high till 1630 m)

Col de la Ponsonniere, France

The early mornign mist was due to burn off as the day wore on, so we planned for a longer trip .. deep into the valley from our usual parking space, aiming for a col on the ridge line.

This will take us past the point from the second day where we turned up to the col, and continuing South(ish).

Leaving the van, we struck off up the valley and were soon climbing up a central rib on the other side of the river to the second day.

As we reached the high meadows, then we had our first good look at where we were aiming for,  the lower bit in the middle.

Time for a reflection and a bit of breakfast, before continuing. (pain Raisin seems to be the favourite).

The next section was to follow the flatter bit around the valley base as we approached the ridge line

Then there was a very rounded gully with lots of tracks (popular route) heading for the col. this was where we had to zigzag for a while, before finishing on the col.

The col was really pleasant and sitting in the sun we looked south to the Ecrins, trying to pick out the peaks or guess the names..

Then it was time to descend ..  we had waited until we thought it was the optimal time ...  the top section in the combe was a little hard, and ridged, but where we could find some smoother parts was brilliant, then we traversed across dropping down to the base of the valley ... taking care with the one "risky" section that already had some avalanche debris.

From here we followed the central rib as we had on the ascent. dropping over little humps and troughs looking for the next line down.

Before too long we were back into familiar territory working down the  valley to the van.


One final look back to the col from the car park, before packing the gear away.

Heading back to the apartment, we were a little earlier than anticipated - we were getting fitter and more used to the conditions.

Circuit de Roche Olvera, France

The clouds were down, the forecast poor and there was not a good freeze last night.

Bryon and I were keen to do something, Chris wanted to have an easy day, so he left us to do a tour around the Roche Olvera.

The departure was up a lower track from our usual parking place, this was very like our earlier exploits in Scotland.

As we moved up the track the snow patches became large, but there was no easy route between them.

We continued up gradually gaining height - still carrying our skis.

Higher up we could see the col we were heading for .. the closer one not the skyline behind.

We could have put the skis on, but just as we were thinking about it we met a very steep bank and Bryon was soon banging the boots in crashing a direct route over the obstacle.

From here we had a short section to get tot he col,  still walking we had to take care is the surface was so hard the boots hardly left a trace, this wind blown snow pack could easily have tripped us up.

The col was our half way point, and we could see where we had come from behind us, and the sun ravaged South facing slopes.

As well as in front the views up to the point that we had been yesterday.. we could even see the rock we stopped at on the way down.

Skis now on, we dropped over the other side, and made for the excellent slopes from yesterday ... they were a little softer, but still good fun.

Down at the car park we had to now walk back down the road to the van around the the side and completing the circumnavigation of the Roche.

The day had turned out to not be as bad as we had expected, and we had made the most of it.

Petit Galibier, France

The skies were clear, but there was the threat of clouds coming up from the south.

We planned to head towards the col de Galibier, but looking at the map we soon changed the target to the little bump named Petit Galibier.

We parked in the now familiar place at the bottom of the step where the road turned south, up to the col in a number of zigzags.

First we crossed over the river in the bottom of the valley, and started straight up the slope ahead.

This slope was the direct way up, whilst the road disappeared to the right in a number of bends.



This first section was a big wake up call as we sweated up the slope.

Looking back it was easy to see how this took so much energy, but also gave us a differenet view of our first two days.

We came over the top of the first rise and the slope eased up a little and we turned to the ridge, seeking out the top we were heading for.
The clouds were gathering around the tops on the ridge, but where we were was still in the sun.

The view back down the valley was quite inviting.

From here we moved up to the top on the ridge. Up here the cloud was down and the visibility was poor, combined with a vicious wind.

We did not stay long, but quickly prepared for the descent, and dropped off the top following our ascent tracks as a guide.

Before long we dropped under the clouds, and soon had the visibility back, and the occasional sun patches.


Back down at the flat bit in the middle we paused by a large rock for a bite to eat and a quick breather.

The bottom slopes were absolutely brilliant .. we had got the timing spot on.

The snow was perfect - soft on top with a hard under layer, allowing some great fun and letting us practice our short turns.

Back at the van we gazed back up where we had been, and also up to the previous days routes.

Now back to the apartment before the bad weather hits.

Via Ferratta Rocher St Pierre, France

Back at the apartment, it was early ... the sun was hot and it was not long before we were looking for something to fill the afternoon.

On our doorstep almost was a via ferrata, we saw the signs when we were wandering around yesterday.


We were not really ready for the steepness of the route, almost straight up, and very intensive.

However we kept going and were soon on the top. We did though decline the extension and the playing with the suspension bridge - saving it for another day.

We then dropped down the back and made our way around to the start point, on the gentle rear slopes. Not exactly the quiet, gentle afternoon we had set out for, but certainly entertaining.






Rocher St Pierre Via Ferrata:
1st part: sporting and elevated circuit, for those who practice regularly climbing or mountaineering - easy variations. Graded TD ( Very difficult)
Length: 400 m - Variation in level: 150 m
2nd part: elevated circuit with many footbridges. Graded AD (fairly difficult)

Col des Cerces, France

Another clear day was promised and we chose to go back to the same valley as yesterday, however this time we would do a tour around the peak we looked yesterday.

We set off up the valley, just skirting the side of the peak, gradually gaining height up to the slight col on the near horizon.

Up on the col we could see the peaks at the end, which we would investigate later in the week.

From here we turned up to the Col des Cerces. this would be the high point of our day.

We stripped off the skins and set down the other side... there were many tracks, showing this was a popular route.

Around the back of the peak we stayed high to get around the col des Rochille, and contoured around above the frozen lakes.

Then we dropped down the camp we saw from the col yesterday, a little more regimented than a normal high Alps hamlet.

We eased over the col de la Pare, and followed the same descent route as we had yesterday. before dropping down to the van .

A great day, and so back to the apartment