Steve & Judy Pardoe welcome you to the Ecrins

This is our draft Photo Album from our brief visit to the Ecrins in September 1999. Please also have a look at our TMB photo album


After finishing our second Tour of Mont Blanc, we spent a couple of days based in Bourg d'Oisans, and had a brief excursion into the Massif des Ecrins. We drove up the exciting road to la Bérarde, parked there and walked up the Vénéon valley on an easy path to the refuge at le Carrelet. Here are some digital photos from that day, and from the Mont Blanc area. Note that all have been cropped or re-compressed to save bandwidth



Judy crossing a stream on our way up the valley. The path was delightful all the way to the refuge


The Refuge du Carrelet (1,909m). The Guardian was having his lunch when we arrived, but brought us out a couple of beers. I apologised for interrupting his meal, and asked if any food might be available when he'd finished. He later appeared with what turned out to be casse-croûte: a plateful of sliced sausage, boiled potatoes, peas and carrots: good mountain food, and very welcome, if lukewarm


Steve in the valley


The Ailefroide (3,954m) at the head of the valley, and the Vénéon Torrent, full of glacier till and looking almost Himalayan


I walked up a side-valley (Vallon des Étages) to try to get a picture of the Aiguille Dibona, which brother-in-law David had climbed the previous year. Can you spot it?



Aiguille Verte and Dru from la Flégère


Judy enjoying a picnic, near la Flégère, opposite Mont Blanc

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