Page 32 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

ALPS 4000

Mont Blanc, 4,808m
Straddling France and Italy this is the biggie,
the highest peak in Western Europe. It’s not

a technical climb, and is on a lot of alpinists’
tick-lists, so it gets very busy.
There is plenty of room to lay a wing out
on top, and you can launch in any wind
direction but west, so it’s a must-do for para-
alpinists too. But don’t underestimate it – it’s
high, with crevassed glaciers and you need
crampons, ice axe and rope to access it.
The two main routes up are via the Goûter
ridge (stay in the space-age Goûter hut), or
the Trois Monts route, via the shoulders
of Mont Blanc du Tacul (you can launch

from here too) and Mont Maudit. Stay in
the Cosmiques refuge, an hour’s walk from
the Aiguille du Midi (cable-car access) for
the Trois Monts route. You must respect the
official landing zones, and it’s forbidden to fly
from here in July and August. June, September
and October are good times to go.
lesailesdumontblanc.com
Photo: Bob Drury

Dôme de Neige, 4,015m

The Dôme de Neige des Ecrins is a secondary
peak of Barre des Ecrins, Europe’s most
southerly 4,000er. Park at Pré de Mme Carle
and overnight at either Refuge du Glacier
Blanc (2,542m) or Rfg des Ecrins (3,170m).
The Glacier Blanc is heavily crevassed so
you’ll need the usual equipment to safely
travel across it. The Dôme de Neige is one
of a handful of peaks in the Ecrins national

park where flying is authorised between May
and October. (It’s forbidden from November
to April). You can launch from the shallow
summit slope where there is just room to lay
out a wing, or beneath the Brèche Lory at
just under 4,000m.
You need a reasonable glide to follow the
Glacier Blanc back to the car, but you can

land on the less crevassed left side of the
glacier near the path; if you have the height,
cross the col des Ecrins to overfly the Glacier
Noir. It’s a dream flight, either way!
guides-ecrins.com
Photo: Mathieu Stephan / souriresdenhaut.com

32 CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 ALPS 4000