Olan (mountain)

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Olan

The north-west face of the Olan
Elevation 3,564 metres (11,693 ft)
Location France
Range Dauphiné Alps
Coordinates 44°51′32″N, 6°11′48″E
First ascent August 1880 Pierre Gaspard (father), Ch. Roderon and A. Cust
Easiest route North ridge (rock, AD, II)

The Olan (l'Olan in French) (3564 m) is a mountain in the Massif des Écrins in the French Alps. It dominates the valleys of Valgaudemar, Valjouffrey, and Vénéon in the heart of Écrins National Park.

Contents

[edit] Climbing

The first ascent of the mountain was made by Pierre Gaspard (father), Ch. Roderon and A. Cust in August 1880.

The great classical routes of the Olan are difficult, and the poor quality of the rock makes the climbing quite dangerous. Routes on the north-west side, from the Font-Turbat refuge, include: north ridge (AD), Couzy-Desmaison (ED), Devies-Gervasutti (TD), and the Candau ridge (D). [1]. On the south-west face is the 'Pilier Nounours' (Teddy Bear pillar, TD), a modern route that was well equipped with bolts by J-M. Cambon.

[edit] Geology

The Olan is made of a granite base, with a gneiss "hat" (see photos on [2]).

[edit] Huts

  • Refuge de Font-Turbat (north side)
  • Refuge de l'Olan (south side)

[edit] External links