The Barre Des Ecrins, 4101m,  looking across the glacier from near Refuge Des Ecrins

Col at the top of La Barre Noire Couloir, a 1500 foot, 50 degree ice couloir.  I had joined up with Brit guides Fredrique and Pamela seen on left and we overtook the two fellows on the right, British Army officers.  One had badly frostbitten feet and so Fredrique roped back down the route with them. 

N.E. Arete from Col Des Ecrins 
   
Pamela and I bet we could outrun a storm up the N.E. arete of La Barre Des Ecrins, over the summit and back down the Voie Normal.   As it was, fortune favored the foolish and after literally racing up the N.E arete, Pam  leading the ice and me the rock we arrived at the summit at a momentary break in the weather.

Mont Pelvoux from the summit of La Barre Des Ecrins as the storm breaks.