Overview
I spent an enjoyable long weekend in Gap in mid-September, during which we were very fortunate with the weather. Gap is easily accessible by rail, and is a good location from which to explore the surrounding region. It is a small town with a pleasant centre, and our hotel was conveniently situated for visiting the local restaurants and bars with our group in the evening.
The trip was well organised by Sally and the team. In particular, as a solo traveller I appreciated their efforts to put our group members in contact with one another prior to travelling. Indeed, most of my group were solo travellers, coming from both France and the UK.
Although I have experience of many classic via ferrata routes in the Dolomites, I had underestimated the increased challenge posed by the modern, sportier routes in the French Alps. Nevertheless, our experienced guide Bernard was very accommodating, and able to adapt sections here and there to match the abilities of individual climbers. The routes varied in style and structure, and the difference as we moved from one type of rock to another was noticeable; several routes featured assorted "bridges" (I use the word loosely!), and the Tyrolean traverses used to descend from the summit on the final day were particularly enjoyable.
My thanks go to Sally, Bernard, Jules and the rest of the team, and also to my fellow travellers for being such good company. I would certainly recommend Undiscovered Mountains to anyone looking to explore this part of France.
