{"id":300877,"date":"2026-02-02T16:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paysdesecrins.com\/my-desire-to\/mountain\/ice-climbing-ice-falls-in-the-pays-des-ecrins\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T13:58:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T11:58:14","slug":"ice-climbing-ice-falls-in-the-pays-des-ecrins","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.paysdesecrins.com\/en\/my-desire-to\/mountain\/ice-climbing-ice-falls-in-the-pays-des-ecrins\/","title":{"rendered":"Ice Climbing: Ice Falls in the Pays des \u00c9crins"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Home<\/a><\/span> My desire to<\/a><\/span> My desire for the mountains<\/a><\/span> Ice Climbing: Ice Falls in the Pays des \u00c9crins<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

Micro-Adventure <\/em>Ice climbing: making progress step by step on the ice<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n

Camille, \u00c9tienne, and I had been talking about it for quite some time: we wanted to take an ice climbing course<\/strong>. This time, we\u2019re finally taking the plunge and heading to the Pays des \u00c9crins in the middle of January. We\u2019re embarking on an ice climbing adventure! <\/p>\n\n

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When Camille promises us<\/em> a series of spine-chilling adventures!<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Camille took the bull by the horns and started looking for information. Comfortably settled in an armchair in front of the fireplace with a blanket on her lap, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine at what she discovered online. Before her eyes was the enticing program for a four-day event called\u201cIce Climbing \u00c9crins\u2014Have a Ice Day<\/a>,\u201d which takes place every year in L\u2019Argenti\u00e8re-La Bess\u00e9e in the Hautes-Alpes. Without a moment\u2019s hesitation, she contacts us and has no trouble convincing us to join her on her icy adventures<\/strong>. Once we\u2019d dug out our down jackets, mittens, and warm boots, we were all set to take on the most beautiful icefalls! Well, almost\u2014because we were about to discover that it takes a good dose of technique. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ice Climbing: It’s All <\/em>About Crampons, Ice Axes, and Fun<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n

Fresh off the train at L\u2019Argenti\u00e8re-La Bess\u00e9e, we drop off our things at our lodging<\/a> and head out to rent the necessary gear<\/a>. After the required safety briefing, we head to the opening night party. The atmosphere is great, and the ice is quickly broken.<\/strong> We love it!<\/p>\n\n

Day Two: Things get serious with our first ice climbing lesson. I\u2019ll admit I\u2019m feeling a little nervous on the shuttle bus taking us to the workshop. Camille and \u00c9tienne can\u2019t stop chatting and giggling, proof that they, too, are nervous. But they\u2019d never admit it. Thanks to our two great guides, we easily slip into the role of novice climbers. <\/p>\n\n

We\u2019re so excited about taking our first steps in crampons on the ice and taking our first swings with our ice axes. Even though it\u2019s cold, the atmosphere is so incredible<\/strong> that we don\u2019t even notice it. Ice is a fascinating element: it takes on bluish hues, sparkles brilliantly, and appears sometimes smooth, sometimes jagged. It\u2019s a real treat! And, honestly, this first experience has convinced all three of us that ice climbing isn\u2019t out of<\/strong> reach\u2026 as long as you have top-notch guidance. <\/p>\n\n

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The rest of the trip flies by. We continue our introduction to ice climbing and try our hand at dry-tooling. Camille and I discover ski touring while \u00c9tienne plays at being a trapper, snowshoes on his feet. Our evenings are just as packed with concerts, movies, and discussions. I have just one regret: not having time to take part in the ice dancing workshop. Dancing with the elements\u2014I can only dream of it! <\/p>\n\n

Four timeless days<\/strong> are coming to an end. The days have flown by, one after another, joyfully. It\u2019s already time to head home, my head full of<\/strong> delightfully icy memories<\/strong>, a smile frozen on my lips. <\/p>\n\n

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