The Vanoise Massif France
From the Vanoise to the Mont Blanc massif
Technical lev. : 4 / 5
Physical lev. : 4 / 5
The Glacier of the Dôme de la Sache is one of the most imposing glaciers of the Vanoise Massif, under the famous Mont Pourri (3779m), we overlook Tignes and its Dam, the view of the Italian Alps at the border and the Gran Paradiso is exceptional.
Dates & Prices
Dates are available on demand. Contact us : info@espritmontagne.com.
Trip
This is a week thought for mounaineerers who would like to improve their technical and physical skills, in order to get prepaired for the climb of Mont Blanc.
We have chosen some of the most beautiful 3500 mt summits in the Vanoise National Park and in the Mont Blanc Massif, where the glaciers of the Dôme de la Sache (3588 mt) and the Dôme des Glaciers (3592 m) represent the perfect alpine terrain for a good training week.
Program
Elevation: - 1000 m and + 250 m
Length: about 5 hours
Meeting with the Mountain Guide at the Funicular in Bourg Saint Maurice at 8:30 am, to check the backpacks and get to know each other over a coffee.
You will take the Funicular at 9:00 am and then the shuttle to reach Arc 2000: if the weather is good you take the Varet Gondola and then the Aiguille Rouge cable car to take advantage of the beautiful view up there. You will do a little training with crampons on the small glacier at the Aiguille Rouse. You will then descend off trail at the level of the Génépi Rock to recover the path which leads to the Turia Hut. The place is magic, you sleep in a cozy chalet with Claire who will prepare you a good meal...
Elevation: + 1200 m and - 1200 m about 8h of activity
Length: 7 to 8 hours approximately
You leave at night for this beautiful goal, the day is long but beautiful, the glaciers are technically easy, crevasses can be quite large which is quite impressive and the view at the top is amazing! You walk back on the same route to spend a second night in this small and cozy hut.
Elevation: - 800m and + 800m
Length: about 2 hours in the morning and 1 hour by car then 2 hours of ascent.
You will walk down to the Gurraz to be picked up by a Taxi, which will bring you back to Bourg Saint Maurice where you pick the Mountain Guide's car and then drive up to the Ville des Glaciers and the Hammeau des Lanchettes. From there you will walk to the Robert Blanc refuge under the Glacier des Glaciers. The valley is wild and the refuge comfortable.
Elevation: + 900 m and - 1700 m
Length: about 9 h of activity
You will leave early in the morning for the ascent of the Dôme des Glaciers, the slopes are not too steep but technically the passages are more difficult than the Dôme de la Sache: the Glacier being well exposed to the sun, you will leave earlier as well. You may be able to make a loop, the ascent by the Arête des Lanchettes and the descent by the glacier or both by the glaciers. The Mountain Guide will decide depending on the conditions and your shape ... Once you are out of the glacier, the descent is quite fast through the moraines. At the end of the day, the Mountain Guide will take you back to Bourg Saint Maurice at the Funicular around 6 p.m.
We advise you to take a transport the next day and take a night in a Hotel in the evening, in order to rest properly.
Equipement
First layer on the skin:
Second layer:
Third layer:
Last layer:
Important Additionals:
If you have any doubts or simply need clarification on what gear to take for your climb, you can take a look at our Blog page "What gear for mountaineering?"
N.B. Consider a change for when you are back to the hut (you can leave some stuff at the hut).
Level
Well-trained mountaineers of an average level, in search of new perspectives: From Gran Paradiso to Monte Rosa provides a great variety of terrain. You will need to have a good level of fitness, good sense of balance and the ability to walk on rough terrain. This is a fairly non-technical excursion apart from some glaciated sections.
It is necessary to have a resistance to about 5/8 hours of walking a day and a good acclimatization to the high altitude as you will be staying at above 3500 mt. It would be advisable for you to properly train and to climb a 4000 peak at least once before leaving for this Tour.
Useful infos
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
On the first day, the meeting will be at 9:00 am directly at the Funicular car parking next to Bourg Saint Maurice train station. Those arriving by train are 2 minutes walk from the car parking, those arriving by car can leave it in the free parking during the whole week.
When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to take part in the car-sharing scheme to get to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your booking, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of the other participants who are interested in car-sharing, so that you can contact them directly.
. Guiding of a UIAGM Mountain Guide of our Team, plus his/her accommodation and meal expenses
. The group equipment (rope, carabiners, etc.);
. Half-board at the Huts and picnics except for first day;
. Transport during the week;
. Cable car tickets to go to the Aiguille Rouge.
. Personal technical equipment: crampons, ice ax and harness;
. Lunches, drinks and snacks so that you can eat as you wish during the race;
. Anything that is not mentioned in "the included price".
Any question?
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If you are a beginner in mountaineering, you can start with a fairly easy summit, such as Gran Paradiso (4,061 m), Breithorn (4,165 m), Mont Pourri (3,779 m) or Mont Rose in a 2-day package.
These are not 'easy' summits, as none of them are easy. It all depends on how fit you are and how much you've trained before embarking on a climb. What's certain is that whatever your first summit, it will be an unforgettable experience!
Mountaineering training requires an integrated approach combining theory, practice and professional supervision. We recommend that you start by acquiring theoretical knowledge about mountain safety, weather, equipment, etc. Then look for courses run by experienced guides to learn the necessary techniques and skills. Practise regularly in the field, starting with hikes and trekking to familiarise yourself with the alpine environment, then progress to more technical ascents with the appropriate supervision. Learn to use specific mountaineering equipment and pay particular attention to mountain safety. Finally, progress gradually by choosing climbs suited to your level of skill and experience.
In the Vanoise massif, there are a number of classic mountaineering routes that offer exceptional challenges and scenery. Here are just a few examples:
Mountaineering is practised throughout the year, but the optimum time depends on the weather conditions and the mountaineer's specific objectives. In general, summer is the most common season for mountaineering, as the temperatures are milder, the days are longer and the melting snow allows easier access to the summits. However, spring and autumn also offer favourable periods, with often stable weather conditions and fewer crowds in the mountains. In winter, mountaineering can be practised in more extreme conditions, but this requires adequate preparation and expertise in mountain safety, as well as particular attention to the risks of avalanches.
