summer >  Alpinism

Ice school + Traverse of the Monétier Domes

Sector : Monetier glacier sector
Level :
Débutant
Duration : 2 jours
04 92 23 32 29 Contact by email
Meeting : 13h30 au refuge du glacier Blanc
Collective : 280 € per person (from 3 up to 4 participants)
Private : 660 € global (until 4 participants)
It is one of the great and major routes of the Glacier blanc sector, facing the Écrins. Once very popular, this route has regained a certain tranquility because the glacial retreat has made some passages less difficult. However, the difficulty remains medium, and the view from the summit remains as wonderful as ever: The white glacier extends its dress from the heights of the Ecrins bar and snow dome.

Programm

1st day : You will meet your guide at the Glacier Blanc refuge, at 1pm, which you will have reached in two hours of walking on the trail from Mme Carle’s meadow. Departure to the ice School, it will happen directly on the white Glacier which is really close to the refuge. Return in the late afternoon.
Ascending elevation: 1000 m / Descending elevation: 300 m.
Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours from the refuge.

2nd day : The following day, you will leave just before sunrise time depending on the time of the season.
You will walk towards the Monetier pass, before switching to the other side. The route ends with a round crossing of the Domes.
Then the descent takes place towards Lake Eychauda and ends at the refreshment bar to celebrate this beautiful crossing.
Ascending elevation: 1050 m / descending elevation: 1050 m.
Hiking time: 3 to 4 h

Equipment

– Mountain trousers
– Warm underwear
– warm fleece jacket
– waterproof and breathing jacket
– 2 pairs of gloves, bonnet
– warm socks
– sunglasses, sunscreen for face and lips
– backpack, middle size (30 to 40 liters)
– gourde (minimum 1 liter), lunches and snacks, picnic
– headlamps with batteries
– bed sheet. No need for sleeping bags (there are blankets at the refuge)

– alpinism shoes with stiff soles that can be fitted with crampons (check with your crampons before you hike to the refuge) (1)
– classic ice axe (1)
– crampons that fit your shoes (1)
– harness (1)
– helmet (1)
– hiking sticks (1)

Possibilty to rent (1).

participants

3 to 4 participants per guide in a collective formula. 3 to 4 participants per guide in private engagement.

From 14 years old.

Access

The White glacier refuge is accessible by foot from the Pré de Mme Carle where you can park your vehicle (large car park). About 700 m. of ascending elevation. To access Mme Carle’s meadow, you have to go through the valley, from L’Argentière la Bessée (Hautes Alpes), Vallouise, Pelvoux and Ailefroide. There is a train station at L’Argentière la Bessée called "l’Argentière les Ecrins".

Level

The crossing of the domes of the Monêtier, even if it has the reputation of being easy, is not an ascent for novices. This route requires to be in an excellent physical condition, to know well how to put and walk with crampons in order to be fast and efficient. The presence of objective dangers (rock falls), which are essential datas when undertaking this ascent, is an element that only experienced people in the high mountains are able to control in their decision-making to undertake this ascent.

Price

This price includes the prestation of a high-mountain guide of the Bureau des Guides et Accompagnateurs des Écrins. It does not include the eventual rental of equipment, neither the night at the refuge or your meals/snacks.

Period

Route scheduled every summer day between mid-June and mid-September. On request outside these dates. This route suffers from drought in season, so it is advisable to plan it in the early summer depending on snow conditions, before August 1. Contact us to know the evolution of the conditions. The White glacier refuge is guarded until mid-September. After this date we will have to consider making our own meal on site, with a stove.