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what's here:
The Dome is the skiable summit connected with the Barre des Ecrins, highest peak
in France outside the Mont Blanc massif. "Classique des classiques" for French ski mountaineering.
It's in the interior of the Ecrins national park. I approached it from the southeast where the road was closed at
Ailefroide.
the Barre des Ecrins seen from appoach on the Glacier Blanc. Dome de Neige is the snowy shoulder on the right of
the Barre. (In this photo, the normal ski climbing route would start to right
of a line drawn down from Dome, then diagonal up and left to just underneath the
higher ice+rock Barre summit, then finish by traversing right nearly horizontally to
the Dome.)
two skiers descending lower section in the middle of the north face
see more Photos of this
Dome de Neige des Ecrins tour
Halfway between the Barre des Ecrins and la Meije, with several interesting
alpine summer climbing routes. I
approached it from the Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar d'Arene, then the Glacier de
la Place des Agneaux. Interesting variety
of skiing with wonderful views along the way.
highest summit Pointe Brevoort in center is not usually skied.
I was glad to find good conditions for climbing it.
in the northeast Vanoise between Tignes and Les Arcs -- but our ski route from
la Gurraz on the northeast side was far away from any lifts. Lots of interesting
glacier terrain (for which we had excellent conditions), and many fun ski slopes
on descent.
Eric navigating thru the upper section of the Glacier Sud de la Gurraz.
(Dome de la Sache summit is the snowy nub just left of center)
see more Photos of our Dome
de la Sache tour
10 May 2006 -- snowing down to the valley floor in Chamonix
Rick Marchant + Eric disembarking the Montenvers railway after a wintery day on
the Mer de Glas
Eager to get out the day after a wintery storm, we started from
Pralognan-la-Vanoise
on a pretty tour with lower avalanche danger.
Celia (who works at the Refuge) pointing out some sights and routes to Eric.
Right of center is the Grand Casse (3855m)
The highest summit above the Val Thorens ski resort. Its west face holds a
glacier
which is sometimes skiable. I was lucky to be able to climb and ski it on the
same day my flight arrived at 8:00 at the Geneva airport.
summit is just to right of center notch -- several crevasse zones to be avoided
-- many ski tracks visible
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