Manu, Cyrille and I swap Mont Blanc for the Écrins. After a warm-up on Pic de la Grave, we traverse Râteau Est and spend a sunny afternoon at the hut.
The weather around Chamonix looks a little too uncertain for our original plan, climbing Mont Blanc via the Italian normal route. I suggest to Manu and Cyrille that we try our luck in the Écrins, where conditions are looking particularly good at the start of July!
J1 — Pic de la Grave and the Refuge de la Selle
I meet the two characters in fine form for a ride up on the La Grave cable car, a rare little luxury in the Écrins! We warm up on Pic de la Grave before heading to the Refuge de la Selle, with its friendly wardens, craft beer and a red wine that’s… well balanced!
J2 — Râteau Est and the Refuge du Promontoire
Today’s plan is to reach the Refuge du Promontoire via Râteau Est. There’s still plenty of snow, which makes for a lovely route, even if Manu is beginning to wonder how he got talked into this alpine ambush!
An outrageous view from the summit after a bit of contortion on the ridge… We head straight down to the hut via the southeast face, a reasonable shortcut with this much snow and one to avoid otherwise. Then it’s a lazy afternoon in the sunshine at the Refuge du Promontoire.
Practical Info / Route Topo
J1 — A warm-up on Pic de la Grave
- The weather sends Manu, Cyrille and me to the Écrins. We take the cable car from La Grave, climb Pic de la Grave and head to the Refuge de la Selle.
J2 — Traversing Râteau Est
- We follow the snowy ridge of Râteau Est and, given the conditions that day, descend straight to the Refuge du Promontoire via the southeast face. We spend the afternoon in the sun at the hut.
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