Pointe Louise, South-East ridge 3668 m
Meeting :
2pm at the Glacier Blanc refuge (2550 m).
The very pure itinerary that leads to Louise’s point via its southern edge looks just like the place: you are really in the high mountains, the approach is on the Glacier Blanc, the descent requires good qualities as a mountaineer in snow. It must be done early enough to maintain the snow, so you must "keep a schedule" during the climb.
Programm
– Meet your High Mountain Guide at 2pm at the Glacier Blanc refuge (2550 m) which you will reach in about two hours of walking from Mme Carle’s meadow above the village of Ailefroide. After climbing the slopes of the Glacier Blanc, you will spend the night at the Refuge des Écrins.
– The next day you will walk past La Roche Faurio pass and rise to the foot of the ridge where the route begins. The route follows the ridge which sometimes looks like a pillar up to the terminal rocks. The view can be seen, facing the Écrins, in full light, before the descent which requires you to stay focused.
– The next day you will walk past La Roche Faurio pass and rise to the foot of the ridge where the route begins. The route follows the ridge which sometimes looks like a pillar up to the terminal rocks. The view can be seen, facing the Écrins, in full light, before the descent which requires you to stay focused.
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)
– additional screw carabiner
– Descender or similar device with its screw carabiner. Cordet.
– 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) (1) Renting is possible
– 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)
– additional screw carabiner
– Descender or similar device with its screw carabiner. Cordet.
– 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) (1) Renting is possible
participants
– 2 participants per guide with the collective formula.
– 1 to 2 participants per guide with the private formula.
– 1 to 2 participants per guide with the private formula.
Access
The Refuge du Glacier Blanc is accessible by foot from the Mme Carle’s meadow where you can leave your vehicle (large car park). About 700 m of ascending elevation on the way up. To access “Pré de Mme Carle”, 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 (“L’argentière les Écrins").
Level
– It is necessary to have a certain ease in cramping and to climb in 4° degree in the mountains, with mountaineering shoes and a backpack, above 3500 m. This involves climbing in the valley, having a very good physical condition (being acclimatised) and a certain ease in the rocky "mountain" terrain.
– Rating "AD" (quite difficult)
– Rating "AD" (quite difficult)