La Meije

Grand Pic de la Meije, La Grave, Briançon, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Kontinentalna Francuska, 05320, Francuska

La Meije, soaring to an elevation of 3,984 meters, is a prominent mountain in the Massif des Écrins, situated at the intersection of the Hautes-Alpes and Isère départements in France. This striking mountain, second in height only to the Barre des Écrins within its range, commands the landscape near the village of La Grave, renowned for its mountaineering and off-piste skiing opportunities. La Meije also dramatically punctuates the horizon west of the Col du Lautaret.

La Meije’s main ridge extends from west to east, featuring notable summits like Le Grand Doigt (3,764 m), Pic du Glacier Carré (3,862 m), Grand Pic de la Meije or Pic Occidentale (3,983 m), Pic Central or Doigt de Dieu (3,970 m), and Pic Oriental (3,891 m). Neighboring peaks include Le Râteau to the west and Pic Gaspard to the southeast.

The mountain gained historical significance due to its challenging ascents. The central summit, recognized by its prominent feature, the Doigt de Dieu, was first conquered on June 28, 1870, by guides Christian and Ulrich Almer and Christian Gertsch, leading Meta Brevoort and W.A.B. Coolidge. The Grand Pic’s first ascent, notorious for its difficulty, was achieved on August 16, 1877, by Pierre Gaspard and his son, along with their client Emmanuel Boileau de Castelnau.

Ludwig Purtscheller, Otto, and Emil Zsigmondy first traversed from the central to the main summit on July 26, 1885, overcoming what was deemed an insurmountable gap, now known as the Brèche Zsigmondy.

The south face of La Meije, known for its formidable climbing challenges, witnessed its first successful ascent in 1912 by Angelo Dibona, Luigi Rizzi, and the Mayer brothers, while direct routes to the Grand and Central Pics were established in 1935 and 1951, respectively.

Mountaineering endeavors in La Meije typically commence from two key mountain refuges: the Refuge du Promontoire (3,082 meters) at the base of the south buttress, providing access to the south face routes, and the Refuge de l’Aigle (3,450 meters) atop the Tabuchet glacier, serving as a gateway to the north face. This striking mountain remains a symbol of mountaineering history and a beacon for climbers and adventurers.