Dôme des Ecrins: braving your first "4000er"

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Bureau des guides du Pays des Ecrins
05290 Vallouise
(0033) (0)4 92 23 32 29
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See the access map

La Juliane – an all-organic green guesthouse
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There's a fifteen minutes' walk between La Juliane and the nearest road, summer and winter alike. Built in the local style, the larch log and dry stone chalet comes into view at the end of a steep path along a mountain stream. It is insulated with sheep's' wool and its walls are whitewashed with paper pulp; the windows gaze southward, taking full advantage of the heat of the sun. All the electricity needed is produced on site, using solar panels, a wind turbine and a miniature hydroelectric generator.

Staying in La Juliane means learning to respect nature. "You say to yourself our planet deserves respect when you look at a landscape like this", states the fortunate owner, Jean-Claude Lagrange, a financial advisor in his past life. So saying, he stands on his huge terrace and points to the slopes of the Pelvoux resort and the peaks of the Ecrins range. A huge territory that can be explored by foot, on skis or on a mountain bike, where you will come across marmots, Golden Eagles, sea buckthorn and columbines.

He sets off in this direction to pick the herbs and aromatic plants he uses for the energizing mountain cuisine he prepares for his guests (wild herb soup, nettle soup or potato pie for instance), served up in front of the hearth. In the course of themed stays, he brings his guests with him, teaching them to find edible berries and how to cook wild plants.

Gîte-refuge de la Juliane
Le Martouret
05340 Pelvoux
(0033) (0)6 77 85 40 90
(0033) (0)4 92 23 47 49
Half-board from 37 € (dormitory) to 41,50 € (room).
 Website

Chalet-étape du col de la Pousterle
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This chalet belongs to geologist Bernard Bonhomme. As well as being a hostel, it has snacks, drinks and set meals on offer.

Chalet-étape du col de la Pousterle
col de la Pousterle
05120 L'Argentière-la-Bessée
(0033) (0)4 92 23 14 55
 E-mail contact

Objective 4000
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A 7-day course designed for people in good physical condition, to acquire the basics necessary to roam the mountain tops in the Ecrins.

Bureau des guides Ailefroide-Ecrins
05340 Ailefroide
(0033) (0)4 92 23 32 02
7-day course 390 € per person.
 E-mail contact
 Website

Dôme des Ecrins
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To ascend the highest mountain in the Ecrins country, you need to be in good physical shape, have a guide with you, and master the rudiments of rock-climbing: crampons, snow and ice walking, belaying…

Climbing to the top of the Dôme des Ecrins, over 4000 metres high, is within the reach of (almost) anybody. Your efforts will be rewarded by a great sense of personal achievement at having braved an Alpine summit.

Bureau des guides Ailefroide-Ecrins
05340 Ailefroide
(0033) (0)4 92 23 32 02
140 €. Departure from the Glacier Blanc refuge hut. From June to September.
 Website

Snow racket excursions
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Christophe Lebreton organises walks and night excursions on snow rackets, starting from Les Vigneaux.

Christophe Lebreton
La Balme Le Village
05120 Les Vigneaux
(0033) (0)4 92 23 00 94
(0033) (0)6 08 54 33 59
 E-mail contact
 Website

Accompagnateurs en Ecrins
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They organise half-day snow racket outings on the sleeping nature trail, starting from Puy Saint-Vincent.

Les accompagnateurs en Ecrins
05120 Les Vigneaux
(0033) (0)4 92 23 15 92
 E-mail contact
 Website

The Pays des Ecrins Tourist Office
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To prepare your stay in the Ecrins, find information on accommodation, restaurants, places to visit...

Office de Tourisme du Pays des Ecrins
23, avenue de la République
05120 L'Argentière-la-Bessée
(0033) (0)8 10 00 11 12
 Website