Ski Touring in the Ecrins..

I have been away for a week's break in France. The weather has been settled, with blue skies and relatively warm temperatures allowing Tom, Chris, Paul and I to do most of the classic Ecrin's Haute Route.

This classic ski mountaineering route has the reputation of crossing some remote terrain and certainly puts the 'M' back in Ski Mountaineering.

We started in La Grave before crossing the Col Girose and the Breche du Rateau, enjoying a 1904m descent to La Berarde. Day 2 involved a long skin up the valley to the Refuge Temple Ecrins which was particularly hard to find due to the depth of snow. Day 3 saw an ascent of the Col de la Temple at 3322m, and a descent of the remote Glacier Noir below the impressive north faces of the Ailefroide and Pic Sans Nom. Day 4 took us from the Refuge du Glacier Blanc towards the Col d'Ecrins, our planned ascent of the Dome de Neige des Ecrins being hazardous due to new windslab accumulations. Finally Day 5 consisted of a lengthly descent to Ailefroid and the village of Pelvoux, phew.

Back in the Peak District I have heard that spring is definately on the way. See you out on the grit..