The road that leads to AILEFROIDE is as spectacular as the site itself, overwhelmed by the daunting ridges, peaks and glaciers of Pelvoux and the Barre des Écrins, at 4102m the highest summit in the massif. The village is really no more than a huge campsite with a couple of shops and a climbing centre, overrun with climbers and walkers in July and August, and for that reason, it's not a particularly pleasant place to stay. Beyond Ailefroide, however, towards the end of the road at the Pré du Madame Carle and the old Refuge Cézanne, you'll be rewarded with some magnificent scenery.The classic walk to do is the steep climb to the CAF Refuge du Glacier Blanc (tel 04.92.23.50.24), right beside the beetling glacier, but it can be a real circus on a summer's day. Quieter, and a good deal longer, is the approach to the CAF Refuge du Sélé (tel 04.92.23.39.49) and the Pointe du Sélé, due west of Ailefroide, but bear in mind that this is a difficult trek for experienced hikers, not an afternoon stroll.
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