Vercors: along the Eastern barrier

When people think of the Vercors, they usually picture its high plateau, its karst formations, its caves—some developed for tourism, others not—in short, all the classic features of a mid-mountain limestone massif. A place more often associated with cross-country skiers and cavers.
And yet, at the far eastern edge of this range lies a striking barrier of cliffs facing the rising sun. It stretches for some thirty kilometers, cut through by countless gullies leading to “Pas”—a typically vertacomicorien (yes, that’s your new alpine vocabulary word to dazzle friends with!) kind of place name.

This belt of rock faces might remind you—on a far grander scale—of the Chartreuse cliffs just to the north, though here, without the hassles of private property and access restrictions imposed by a marquis more fond of hunting than ski touring…

Across this eastern barrier lies one of the densest concentrations of skiable couloirs in the Alps—just a few dozen kilometers south of the Grenoble metro area.
Tucked between the massive limestone pillars—famous for their classic multi-pitch climbing routes—are numerous “couennes” for ski touring: short, varied couloirs that can often be done in half a day. They differ in scale and steepness, but share a general east-facing orientation and relatively low elevation, making them ideal for winter outings.

So don’t be surprised to run into Grenoble’s tech engineers out here—sneaking in a descent before work, rather than after.