Personal guiding Summer and Winter in the sunny French Alps

Murray Hamilton is a very experienced Mountain Guide who lives and works guiding in the Ecrin all year round. He has climbed throughout the world with many first ascents to his credit. Murray is a fully qualified guide and is a Member of the International Union of Mountain Guides Associations (U.I.A.G.M.).

Rock Climbing Icefall Climbing Alpine Routes Ski Mountaineering

Brochure and bookings:

Murray Hamilton, Le Pey, Les Vigneaux 05120, France Tel/Fax: (00 33) 4 92 2308 56 Email hamilton.nash@wanadoo.fr

Les Vigneaux

Les Vigneaux, Murray's home, is a small village where traditional ways of life still exist. It is set amongst the protected high mountains, glaciers, rockfaces, torrents, waterfalls, lakes, forests and diverse biota of the beautiful Ecrins National Park. Although based there, he equally enjoys guiding throughout the British Isles and Europe, discovering their remotest corners.

Seasons:

Many other activities can be enjoyed in the area. Just as Murray is at home guiding serious alpine routes in remote places, he is equally happy to combine activities to suit clients' interests and make a fun adventurous holiday.

Icefalls.

Dec to March

The frozen waterfalls of the region are famous throughout the world. There are several hundred within easy striking distance varying from 30m - 600m in length, from easy angles up to and beyond vertical. If you want to climb some ice, this is the place to do it, learning from the local experts.

Ski Touring

Feb - June.

Courses

The region has single or multi-day tours that range from straight forward, to those passing through remote serious mountain ranges. We are blessed with lots of sun and lots of snow. The tours in the national park are mainly wild and difficult but in the lower and lesser known mountains surrounding the park there are many easier possibilities, making this an excellent area for both the beginner and the expert in this exciting sport.

General Valley Base

More sunshine than any other alpine region.

A micro climate with 300 days of sunshine a year at Briancon.

Accommodation in Valloise Valley

Murray & his wife Carol are happy to arrange accommodation, whether in the apartment attached to their house or at any of the following:-

• Camping (June to Sept)
• Self Catering
• Auberge-excellent value with food, accomodation in small dormitories.
• Hotels at various levels of comfort and price.

Transport from UK

Plane/Train to Paris, then overnight sleeper Paris-Briancon line, disembarking at L'Argentière-les-Ecrins.

OR

Bus from London to Grenoble station, then to Briancon disembarking at L'Argentière-les-Ecrins.

OR

Fly + car hire. Airports-Torino (100km), Grenoble (130km), Lyon (170km)

Rock Climbing

Feb to Oct.

There are more than 1000 routes within 1/2 hr of our base with routes of all grades from 1 pitch - 20 pitches, on limestone or granite. There are equipped routes on beautiful granite in the local mountains to name a few such as the South faces of the Meige Aiguille Dibona and Sialouze.

Instruction or guiding to any level.

Alpine Mountaineering

June to Oct.

Murray's business is situated on the edge of the Ecrins National Park. This mountainous region culminates in the Barre des Ecrins(4100m) and has a lot less commercialisation than other alpine regions due to its protected wilderness status.

Guiding and instruction to suit every taste.

Routes on snow and ice, good rock, bad rock, ridges, faces, gullies, couloirs.

Gullies and couloirs are best March - June.

Le Pey, Les Vigneaux 05120 France Tel/Fax: (00 33) 4 92 2308 56

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