Overview
Very close to the famous Aiguille Dibona, there is another spire) called
Aiguille Orientale du Soreiller.
It provides great traditionnal climbing as well as modern equipment.
Right nearby there are the "
Tours Jumelles" (Twin Towers) which increases the number of routes to ascend.
Getting There and Staying...
Coming from
Bourg d'Oisans, drive towards
La Bérarde.
After St Christophe en Oisans you will reach a place called "
Les Etages" (1597m).
You can park there and start walking up to the
Soreiller Hut (2719m).
Beautiful scenery but steep hike !
Once there you can either stay at the Hut or camp freely 200m (East) away.
Soreiller Hut : +33 4 76 79 08 32. Warm welcome.
Route Description
To access all of these routes, you just have to walk about half an hour North-East of the Hut. When you look at Aiguille Dibona, it's on the right, you can't miss it ! ;o)
1. DIEDRE CANDAU
Rock D+ / IV+ / 250m (opened in 1966 by Narcisse Candau)
A beautiful traditional route with a pitons on the way.
To reach the dihedral itself, you first have to climb 3 pitches (III > IV > II). The first two can be quite wet.
The you go into the large sloping Candau Dihedral with 4 great pitches to ascend : III > IV > IV+ > IV+.
If you feel comfortable enough, this can be climbed with tight rope with fewer relays.
To descend you can either reach the summit and use the East ridge, but you will find dodgy rocks there. Or you can abseil in the route right next to it "Danse avec le pilier" (see below).
2. OTHER ROUTES ON SOREILLER ORIENTAL
- Danse Avec Le Pilier : Rock ED- / VI+ / 350m (9 pitches)
3 > 5+ > 4 > 6a+ > 6b > 6b > 6c > 4 > 3
Modern equipment on a spectacular route opened by Jean-Michel Cambon
- Voyage Pour l'Orient : Rock TD- / V+ / 400m (12 pitches)
3 > 5+ > 4+ > 5+ > 5+ > 3+ > 4 > 5 > 5+ > 5+ > 5 > 4
Not as nice as the other two described above, but interesting for class 5 climbers. Modern equipment as well
3. TOURS JUMELLES
These two redish towers are located at the very right of Aiguille Orientale du Soreiller.
4 very well equiped routes have been opened by Cambon & Junique.
Good sport climbing in altitude. Rather slopy on the first pitches, then more vertical.
All routes there are descended by abseiling.
- Polka du Pilier Voltigeur : Rock TD+ / VI+ / 250m (7 pitches)
5 > 6a+ > 6a > 5+ > 6b/A0 > 5+ > 6a
- Mazurka : Rock TD- / VI / 200m (7 pitches)
5+ > 6a > 5 > 3 > 6a+ > 5+ > 5
- La Java des Bombes Atomiques : Rock TD- / VI / 200m (7 pitches)
5 > 5 > 6a > 5 > 5+ > 5+ > 5
- Courage, Fuyons : Rock TD / VI / 250m (8 pitches)
4 > 6a > 5 > 5 > 5 > 6a > 6a+ > 4
Essential Gear
For all routes :
- 2x 50m ropes
- Harness + Helmet
- Quickdraws + Slings
- Abseil equipment
- Friends : needed in "Dièdre Candau" ; useful in "Danse Avec le Pilier" ; useless elsewhere
- Crampons might be useful, very early in the season to approach (between the hit and the route start)
Books & Maps
The best handbook would be :
Oisans Nouveau Oisans Sauvage (Ouest)
The best map would be :
Meije/Pelvoux 3436ET (East part of Les Ecrins)