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FRANCE | | |
|  The Barre des Ecrins (4101m), the highest peak in the Ecrins and the only 4000m peak in France south of Mt Blanc. The picture shows the North Face. The North Face and West Ridge (the ridge on the right) is a very popular PD. More challenging is to climb the Barre Noire Couloir (AD), seen here sideways on as a leftward-slanting slim sliver of ice, and then traverse the crest of the peak. | |
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| The major alpine areas: The Jura: The range bordering Switzerland north of Lake Geneva. Rather lower peaks, but still spectacular. Summits include Crêt de la Neige and Le Reculet. Mont Blanc Range: Borders Switzerland and Italy and includes many famous peaks in addittion to Mt Blanc, such as the Aiguille Verte, the Grand Jorasses and the Dru. Vanoise: South of Mt Blanc and bordering Italy. Summits include the Grande Casse and Mt Pourri. Ecrins: Known to Brits as the Dauphinée, this range includes the Barre Des Ecrins and the Meije. Vercors: Limestone peaks in Central France. Perhaps better known for its rock climbing on crags such as Presles and Archiane, but the highest peak is the Grand Veymont. Queyras: South of the Vanoise on the French Italian border. Monte Viso is the best known peak. Mercantour: South of the Queyras on the French Italian border and also known as the Maritime Alps. Cime du Glas is the highest peak.
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| | NB Postage!: Due to the low mark up on books, maps, videos and DVDs we have had to charge a contribution towards UK postage on most of these items. This charge is 50p on very light books, £1 on most club style guides and DVDs, £2 on Rockfax and similar size guides and £3 for bigger books. These charges are waived for orders totalling over £60 and for Priority Orders. Overseas orders will be charged at cost. | |
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France in General: | | |
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Northern France: | | |
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Mt Blanc Area: | | |
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| There are a number of websites that provide useful ice climbing information for European icefalls. Here are a few:Icehome: online guidebook to various areas in France and Italy - in English. Ice: Italian icefalls - in Italiano. | |
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Vanoise: | | | Better known to British skiiers as the area encompassing les Trois Vallees, this is the alpine area south of the Mt Blanc Range and lying between it and the Dauphinee. | |
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Ecrin (Dauphinée): | | | The area lying to the south of the Mt Blanc Range is also known as the also known as the Dauphinée, Oisan, or Massif de Pelvoux, and is probably the second most popular alpine destination for British mountaineers. | |
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Vercors: | | | The area immediately south of Grenoble and west of the Dauphinée. Includes the famous Mont Aiguille. | |
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Southern France: | | |
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The Pyrenees: | | |
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Corsica: | | |
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Canoeing Guides: Nothing at all to do with climbing, but can be more fun than the wall on a wet day!: | | |
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