A varied alpine climb in the heart of the Ecrins massif
‘It is a magnificent ridge climb, an ideal adventure, constantly at a high elevation, very diverse and in a great setting.’ These are the words of renowned French alpinist Gaston Rébuffat to describe the Pavé-Meije Orientale traverse. It is indeed a beautiful climb on rock and snow, along a thin exposed ridge, with breathtaking views of the Pic Gaspard, the Lautaret glacier and the Grand Pic de La Meije. It also has the advantage to be accessible in terms of technical difficulties.
Day 1
The path starting from Arsine winds up and crosses the renowned Pas d’Anna Falque (1735m). Then we hike the bucolic Plan de l’Alpe up to the Plan de Valfourche (2048m) and head west following the Clot des Cavales mountain stream. The path gets steeper again and the last section before the hut is equipped with cables to make the ascent easier. The setting of the hut, right by a lake and in the heart of a rock amphitheater, is simply stunning.
1200m vertical from Arsine to the Pavé mountain hut (2841m) – about 4 hours.
Day 2
We start our ascent at dawn towards the Cavales upper glacier. After crossing a crevassed area, the itinerary winds up towards the Pavé mountain pass (3554m) following a snow slope with some mixed sections. Then we cross the Etançons glacier to reach the base of a couloir of snow and ice, which we climb up for about 200 meters. The climb continues on a thin exposed ridge. From there, we can enjoy a magnificent high mountain atmosphere with breathtaking views of the Vallon des Etançons and the north face of the Pic Gaspard. A ledge brings us to the base of a couloir which we climb up to reach the snow slopes leading to the summit of the Meije Orientale. The descent is done by the normal route of the northeast ridge, leading to the Tabuchet glacier and eventually to the Aigle mountain hut.
1050m vertical from the Pavé mountain hut (2841m) to the Aigle mountain hut (3450m) – about 7 hours.
Outing with a certified mountain guide or instructor
Professional Civil Liability Insurance
Group technical gear (rope…)
Personal Accident Insurance
Water Bottle or thermos, food and snacks
helmet
harness
Mountain boots that work with crampons
Classic mountaineering ice axe. Crampons with ANTI-SNOW system that fit your mountaineering boots.
backpack (around 35L)
Club Alpin ID card, insurance card or information, Alpine Club card (if you have one)
Picnic for during the day
Lodging costs for clients and guide
Sleeping bag liner (to be used with the provided blankets at the refuges) and small toiletry kit (no showers in the refuge)
Meal costs for clients and guide
Small first aid kit for your personal needs and that contains material in case of blisters
Appropriate clothing for your activity and the weather
Regular and varied mountaineering practice allows you to tackle technical and demanding routes: the most beautiful adventures are within your reach and we are here to share intense and magical moments with you.
You must be in very good physical shape. You should frequently practise endurance sports such as walking, cycling, running, swimming, etc. You should be able to comfortably undertake one or more long days of sport, carrying a rucksack weighing around 10 kg.