Via Ferratas of the French Alps. Richard Miller
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Название: Via Ferratas of the French Alps
Автор: Richard Miller
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Спорт, фитнес
isbn: 9781849657761
isbn:
Approaching the defensive fosse above the Falaises de la Bastille. Grenoble and the River Isère are seen in the background (Route 41, Stage B)
For those on a more modest budget, campsites are an excellent option and are by far the most common form of accommodation in the French Alps. Most are spacious and clean and some offer a wide range of facilities (pool, restaurant, wifi and so on), although these tend to be a little more costly. Almost all campsites also offer caravan pitches and many have cabins to rent. The best value campsites are normally Campings Municipal, which are operated by the local commune. A tent pitch (emplacement) for two people with car and electricity typically costs between €12 and €20 per night. There are several websites listing campsites, such as www.campingfrance.com.
Another good budget option is gîtes d’étape. These are the French equivalent of private hostels and normally contain a dormitory as well as private rooms. A bed in the dorm should cost €10–20 per night, and dinner, bed and breakfast (demi-pension) €30–45. See www.gites-refuges.com for a full list. This site also lists mountain refuges, but these will be of limited use as most of the via ferratas are situated at lower altitude in the main valleys. Local tourist offices will also have full details of accommodation in each area. See the individual routes and Appendix D for relevant website addresses.
Maps
It is likely that the majority of readers will visit these routes by car; to that end a good, up-to-date, road atlas is highly recommended. Most of the routes cover a small area and make use of their own purpose-built approach and descent paths. For this reason, a topographical map will be of limited use.
However, for a handful of longer mountain routes such as the Via Ferrata d’Ugine (Route 11) or Via Ferrata l’Aiguillette du Lauzet (Route 51), one may come in handy. In any event, if you plan to extend your outing beyond the via ferrata or just wish to have a better appreciation of the surrounding landscape, a topographical map will be useful. The Institut Géographique National (IGN) produces the standard range of French topographic maps, which are of a similar quality to British Ordnance Survey maps. The most suitable series is the IGN Carte de Randonnée TOP25 series, which has a blue cover. These are widely available from newsagents and tourist offices throughout France and can also be ordered online. The IGN website (www.geoportail.fr), which features scalable topographical and satellite maps, is also extremely useful.
Route grading
(clockwise from top left): typical via ferrata stemple/rung; fingerhold; footplate; small stemple
All the routes in the book have been given three grades. The first is for technical difficulty, the second for exposure, and the third for the seriousness of the surrounding environment.
Technical grade
This indicates the overall technical difficulty of the route or stage and is the most important grading. It is based on how strenuous the route is, the degree of technical movement required, how sustained and/or committing and the difficulty of any bridges or other components requiring balance. The technical grade takes only limited account of the length of the route but gives particular weight to the difficulty of any crux points. Appendix A lists the routes in order of technical grade (1–5) and by approximate difficulty, relative to each other, within each grade.
1 Very few or no strenuous components, involving basic scrambling at most. Suitable for competent and fit hillwalkers.
2 Occasional strenuous moments. Very small overhangs may be present but these are spaced well apart. May also be technical sections requiring some scrambling skills. Suitable for those with such skills or in good physical condition.
3 Fairly strenuous at times, but such moments are well spaced out. Small to medium overhangs may be present. Occasionally, you may be required to clip your via ferrata lanyard under pressure. Possible technical sections requiring good scrambling skills. Suitable for those with such skills or in good physical condition.
4 May contain isolated large overhangs, long fairly strenuous and/or sustained sections. You may be regularly required to clip your via ferrata lanyard under pressure. May involve technically complex sections requiring basic rock-climbing skills. Bridges may require a reasonable sense of balance. Suitable for those with some rock-climbing ability or in very good physical condition.
5 May contain a number of passages that are strenuous, sustained and committing. Technically complex sections, requiring low-grade rock-climbing skills, may be present. You may often have to clip your via ferrata lanyard under pressure. Bridges may require a good sense of balance. Suitable for proven rock climbers or those in excellent physical condition.
Exposure
Exposure is a measure (graded 1–5) of how much empty space there appears to be beneath you and, therefore, how good a head for heights you are likely to require. Routes graded 1 will probably place you near drops of 10 to 20m, with any more exposed positions not being too ‘immediate’. Routes graded 5 will probably involve positions with several tens or hundreds of metres of air directly underfoot. That said, the individual grades do not reflect any specific set of criteria but are solely relative to each other. The grade, ultimately, reflects only the opinion of the author, but should assist readers in assessing whether a route is suitable. Many people find that the more exposure they experience, the less effect it has. So, if you struggle at first with this aspect of via ferratas, persevere and you are likely to find that your head for heights improves.
The exposed ladder (grade 5) at the top of the Grande Dièdre, on Via Ferrata de la Cascade de l’Oule (Route 40, Stage B)
Seriousness
This grade (A–C) indicates the overall seriousness of the environment in which the route is situated. The grade is based on the following criteria: the proximity of the route to towns/villages; altitude; the likely effects of rapidly worsening weather; the danger posed by rockfall, and the general nature of the terrain.
A The route is in or near a town, village or resort. It is at a relatively low altitude and rockfall is not a particular issue. Escape in the event of a sudden deterioration in weather would not normally be problematic.
B The route may be somewhat distant from any population centre and/or at moderately high altitude. Escape from the route in the event of a sudden deterioration in the weather may not be entirely straightforward. Rockfall may be an issue.
C The route is relatively far from any population centre and/or at a relatively high altitude. A sudden deterioration in the weather could have serious consequences. Rockfall may be an issue and the nature of the terrain may demand particular care.
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