Wild Ubaye - Story of a ski raid in Ubaye

Alex Pichon, a mountain photography enthusiast and member of the Lagoped Family, takes us here to the heart of the wild Ubaye. In this vivid and sensory story, we follow a self-supported ski touring adventure, marked by bivouacs, grand landscapes, and chosen moments of solitude. An immersion at the pace of the mountain, between effort, contemplation, and simple sharing.

We arrive at the Larche Pass at 2 p.m. All our gear compressed in the bag, skis on our backs, we set off into the Orronaye valley. After an hour of carrying, we can finally put on our skis. The bag is heavy, the sun is bold, and the heat is noticeable. The adventure can truly begin!

Arriving at the Gipière Pass, we are alone in the world, finally. Just the two of us facing the majestic mountains of the Ubaye. The Head of Moses on our right watches us. Visible tracks suggest other skiers have taken the route not long before. We still hope to be alone at the bivouac!

We reach the final climb to access the Sautron Pass at 2687m, before descending on the Italian side. We go down, the sunlight still strong and the cool wind carrying the joy of our first ski descent to the East. The Danilo Sartore bivouac appears. Its tipi-shaped roof and reddish paint reveal the authenticity of the landscape. It’s a moment of relief and happiness. Like kids finding their hideout, we rush inside. A bit of sausage, some cheese before enjoying our sardines and semolina!

In the early morning, the mountains ignite. We are lulled by the peaceful and warm atmosphere of spring that will accompany us throughout this second day. Four mountain passes on the agenda. The legs awaken to the rhythm of the transforming snow. The wind preserves this wintery ambiance, giving us a chill when we pass through the shade. As the day goes on, clouds appear and the sun seems to play hide and seek. A mountain atmosphere settles in, with no encounters along our path. A welcome solitude.

Despite the lack of network, we head towards the last pass of the day, the Stropia pass. A short descent then a short climb, despite a remastered route and a small mistake, we are happy to glimpse the Barenghi bivouac. A metal box in the colors of the Swedish flag. Almost like our sardine cans. The timing is perfect, a thick fog surrounded the blue bivouac a few minutes later.

After a night close to the experience of a freezer, we still wake up to the surprise of a clear sky and a little extra layer of snow as a bonus. Cherry on top! Here we go for the easiest day of the raid. 15 km distance and 650 meters of elevation gain which, with the heat, will give us little rest.

We descend with the Mary torrent to reach the beautiful village of Maljasset to sleep at the Maljasset Chalet, a CAF refuge guarded by Federica (Tita) and Hélène. A blueberry tart, the return to civilization. A somewhat sad happiness, but happiness nonetheless. The next day, we hitchhike back to the car still parked at the Larche pass. Thanks to Orso, a neighbor of the refuge who saved us 15 km in ski boots.