Colmcille Climbers

Martin McGuigan in France. July 2001.

Just back from France. We had two weeks, one up north at a wedding of a friend and one in the Dauphine Alps, The Parc National Des Ecrins. We camped at Ailefroide a small hamlet below Barre des Ecrins 4102M. It is a climber's paradise, from bouldering to single pitches to multi pitches to long high walks to glaciers and high mountains. We got to les Ecrins hut at 3175M and stayed the night. High winds and fresh snow that night and morning meant we had to head down. But we are happy to have got up there. A lot of the walking was on the glacier. I also did some bouldering and high level walking. We met two fine fellows whom I know from past adventures, PhilThompson and Damian Gribben. We had a few glasses of local wine and passed the night exchanging stories of derring-do.