IceDream
Iceclimbing in the Queyras & Ecrins

Period
Week 01 | 01 January - 04 January 2025 | Full |
Specifications
Price:
€920,-
Included:
. 4 days full guiding
. 4 nights accommodation with breakfast and dinner
. safetyequipement (transceiver-shovel-probe)
. organizational costs
Not included:
. transport to location
. lunches and drinks
. gear
. travel insurance
Group:
. minimum of 4 to a maximum of 4 participants per guide
Level
-
Descend
Not of application
-
Ascend
For this course it is not necessary to have experience with climbing with crampons and ice axes. A large advantage is if you have already some climbing experience.
-
Physical condition
Strength and endurance are an advantage.
Whoever likes ice climbing should visit the Dauphiné. The area around Saint-Crépin is famous for its ice climbing event. It offers gigantic ice cathedrals and columns with good ice, but also tons of easier routes, very suitable for beginners.
This place is more varied and vast than the Austrian Stubai valley, Kandersteg in Switzerland, or Valle d’Aosta in Italy. It will suit everyone’s wishes for sure. There are dozens of icefalls from grade WI3+ to grade WI5 in the Queyras and Ecrins. Depending on the conditions and level of participants, we will decide which routes can be climbed during the week.
In the evenings, we will take some time to talk about safety, equipment and ice, with video technical feedback.
On the first days, we will improve our technique in different places like Freissinières or Crévoux, in order to get the basis for climbing bigger routes on the next days, in Fournel and Ceillac. There will also be time to do some dry tooling for those who like, and on the last day, we will climb an impressive 300 meters-high icefall.
We have different sets of ice axes, which can be rented and tested, in order to get a sense of what to use for which purpose.
During this week, you will stay in the gîte La Pierre d'Oran, a brand new building. From this base camp, we will explore a new area every day. Isabelle will be your hostess and will cook a delicious meal for you every night. She speaks excellent English. This accommodation is located in L'Argentière-La-Bessée in the Haute-Durance valley, right between the national park of the Ecrins and the regional park of the Queyras. A very quiet place, with a fantastic 360° view over the mountains of the Hautes-Alpes.
The region is also known for the wide range of activities it offers in mountaineering and skiing. Skiing can be done in Puy-Saint-Vincent and Vars-Risoul, sport climbing on many rock cliffs in the valley, mountain climbing around the glaciers of the Ecrins and rafting on the roaring rivers of Guil and Durance. There is also tons of trails for mountain biking, and excellent cycling on the world-famous Alpine cols like the Col de l'Izoard, Vars, Agnel and Galibier.
High quality
Our maximum group size is 6 people per guide and in rougher, more exposed alpine terrain, this number will be decrease even more. This allows us to make no concessions on quality or safety, and to give every guest enough personal space and attention to improve.
Experience
PowderGuides consists a team of international certified mountain guides with each 1000plus hours of expertise in the immense terrain. With no lost of enthusiasm they will improve your skills of freeriding and touring very fast, but they are also involved in professional training. And this last point makes them up to date on every latest trick in the profession.
Languages
All the guides speak several languages as French, German and English. If you have any question about your trip you can contact us by phone in the office or send us an email in English, French or Dutch.
FAQ
What can we do for you? Although you’ll find many explanations on our Frequently Asked Questions page below. Please use the inquiry form via the contact page for customer support and service, general and specific inquires for any help.