Tour of La Meije

Meet at 8:00 am at the Pont d'Arsine, at 1670 m, just after the hamlet Le Pied du Col. 

We reach the Plan de l'Alpe after crossing the Pas d'Anna Falque, the mountain of the Lambs looks at us from these 3664 m. We arrive quite quickly at our accommodation where we will spend the night, the Alpine hut of Villar-D'Arêne, 2077m.

As an extra we can make an exit near the refuge in the direction of the Pic de Chamoisière to check the level of each one. 

D+ 400m

Close to the Alpe de Villard d'Arêne refuge, we branch off into the valley on the right, source of the Romanche river with its glacier on the Plate des Agneaux.

Around 2500 m we go directly up the southern slope which is under the Adèle Planchard refuge, it gets steeper frankly, we have to arrive early in this section of 300 metres. We can see the refuge as well as the summit of La Grande Ruine, which faces it.

Night on half board at the Adèle Planchard refuge, 3169 m.

3 to 4 hours of effort to reach the refuge

D+ 1100m

Ascents to La Grande Ruine via the Pointe Brevoort, 3765 m, 500 metres of positive difference in altitude to admire the panorama of the Etançons valley. We go back down to pass the Col des Neiges, 3348 m, we put the skins back on to reach the Col de la Casse Déserte, 3483 m, which we will surely cross with crampons, then on the other side by abseiling.

We ski down the La Grande Ruine glacier to reach the Châtelleret hut, 2232 m.

We go up the Etançons valley to the foot of the South Face of La Meije on 850 metres of difference in altitude to reach the mythical Promontoire hut.

Night on half board at the Promontoire hut, 3082 m.

D+ 1500m / D- 1600m

A day more mountaineering than hiking, it will leave memories. Passage at the Brèche de la Meije, 3357 m, behind an abseiling wall, the north face of the Meije glacier. We descend for a short while and then it is the magnificent crossing under the impressive north face of La Meije. 

We put the skins back on to avoid crevasses and to be able to slide better at the foot of the Serret du Savon couloir. A compulsory passage, this steep and narrow couloir is the only entrance to easily tip over the Tabuchet glacier and cross to the Aigle refuge, 3450 m. 

As an option, we can offer a short ascent under the Doigt de Dieux for a more or less long descent on the Tabuchet glacier before reaching the Nid d'Aigle hut.

Half board at the Nid d'Aigle hut.

D+ 825m / D- 450m

Departure at dawn for the ascent of the Eastern Meije (3,891 m) by mountaineer. A short ascent in skins gives access to the normal route, a snowy ridge with a few easy rock passages takes us to the summit with an incredible view of the whole Ecrins massif. We walk back down to the refuge.

For the descent, we have two options: on the east side by the glacier de l'Homme or on the north side by the Tabuchet glacier. These two itineraries are exceptional because of their steep and varied slopes.

D+ 450m / D- 2200m