Dôme des Écrins and Roche Faurio on ski touring!
Micro-adventure3 friends,
2 days in the mountains…
We are three friends, students and addicted to the happiness of shared moments in the mountains. This weekend, we found ourselves with two desires: to climb to the top of the Dôme de Neige des Écrins (4015 m) and its neighbour, Roche Faurio (3730 m), on ski touring.
The month of April in the high mountains means taking advantage of the good conditions offered by spring skiing at these altitudes. So we had two days to enjoy the last little snowfall of the day before and enjoy being together in such a beautiful place.
Roche Faurio…
Departure on Saturday, 5:30 am, from the Pré de Madame Carle spring car park. Sunrise over the Pelvoux, steady climb to the Glacier Blanc, bright sun and ideal temperature to enjoy beautiful powder all day long.
2 pm, arrival at the summit of Roche Faurio, after 2118 m of elevation gain. The break is well deserved and offers us an unobstructed view of the next day’s summit; How good is the chocolate shared by the three of us at the top! Time for the descent, alone in the world, with this beautiful powder not yet traced, isn’t life beautiful?!
Refuge des Écrins
The Écrins refuge is complete, smiles are on everyone’s faces, we feel happy and privileged. A good meal cooked by the two caretakers, a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks at sunset, enriching exchanges with colleagues sitting at our table and a good night’s sleep: what a beautiful day…
Dôme des Écrins…
Departure on Sunday, 6 am, the few rope teams follow one another, headlamps on. We witness a magnificent sunrise over the Barre and the Dôme des Écrins, up there, the snow is all pink.
A few conversions and 1000 m of difference in altitude between the seracs later and we are there. The last few meters must be done in crampons on bluish ice. The view from the summit is breathtaking, 360° on the massif.
But we shouldn’t delay, it’s warmer today and a descent of 2200 meters awaits us to reach the Pré de Madame Carle.
Still good memories in the mountains, for me, that’s where they are the best.
Thank you friends, we’ll see you soon!