Climb & Fly on Mont Pelvoux

Day 1 — Hike up to the Pelvoux Mountain Hut (2,704 m)

We’ll meet up in the late afternoon at the Pelvoux mountain hut, which we’ll reach from Ailefroide after about a 3-hour hike and a 1,200-meter climb. We’ll go over our gear, the route, and the conditions for the next day before a short night at the hut.

Day 2 — Climb up Mount Pelvoux (3,943 m) and flight

We’ll wake up around 3 a.m. to set out with headlamps. Depending on conditions, we’ll ascend via the Coolidge Couloir or the Rochers Rouges. The former follows a snow couloir up to the summit slopes; the latter follows a more winding rocky route. In either case, we’ll climb roped up to Pointe Puiseux, the highest point of the Pelvoux.

At the summit, we’ll assess the conditions with the paragliding instructor to choose the takeoff spot best suited to the wind, the terrain, and the group. There are several options around the summit before we wrap up our adventure in the air!

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Elevation gain: about 1,200 m on the first day and 1,240 m on the second, for a total of 2,440 m.

Walking and climbing time: About 3 hours on the first day and 5 to 6 hours on the second, not including preparation and flight time.