Refuge des Écrins
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Refuge des Écrins also known as Refuge Caron, is a refuge in the Alps, in the French department of Hautes-Alpes. It stands at 3170 metres high, above the Glacier Blanc. Access usually is from the village of Ailefroide in the French Alps and a 2-hour hike further than the Refuge du Glacier Blanc.
The hut trail runs for the most part immediately above the glacier and should only be attempted by fully equipped high-altitude alpinists because of the danger of falling into a crevasse. The high alpine base with 119 beds is often overbooked during the peak season.
History
[edit]The shelter was first built in 1903, between the Emile Pic and Roche Faurio. It was named after Ernest Caron from 1898 to 1901 was Director of the regional Briançon section of the Club Alpin Français or CAF, and again in 1904-1907 Director of the national CAF. Caron was also elected Président du Conseil Municipal de Paris in 1909. [1][2][3]
The first guardian of the refuge Caron was a local guide named Milou Cortial. The materials to build it were carried up by seven guides and six porters, earning 30 francs for every 100 kilos carried from L’Argentière-la-Bessée, to the construction place at an altitude of 3170 meters.[4]
The first wooden Cabane was destroyed by fire in 1921. In 1922 a larger wooden hut was built by the firm Bayrou, who exhibited it first in Briançon. The second Refuge Caron had 36 beds, but often accommodated 70. [5] In 1969 the refuge was enlarged to sleep 116 and renamed Refuge des Ecrins. [6]
44°56′50″N 6°22′59″E / 44.94722°N 6.38306°E
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- ^ "Refuge Des Ecrins". Le Relais des Mesanges.
- ^ Wright, W.A. "Les Ecrins and the Meije". Yorkshire Ramblers Club.
- ^ "Ernest Caron 1915". Paris Musee Collections.
- ^ "50 Ans de l'Histoire, De l'abri sous roche". Ecrins Parc National Fr.
- ^ Albrand, Claude. "Ma Plus Belle Course". Bureau des Guides d'Ecrins.
- ^ "Histoire du Refuge Des Ecrins". Le Relais des Ecrins.