Le Pavé, Summit in Isère, France
Le Pavé is a summit in the Ecrins massif standing at 3823 meters and surrounded by rocky peaks and steep glacial slopes. The route to the top passes through alpine meadows and exposed ridge sections with rock and snow fields.
The mountain was first explored in the 1800s as alpine clubs began forming across the region. Since then, it has served climbers as a training objective throughout the French Alps.
Local mountain guides pass down their knowledge of Le Pavé's routes through generations, maintaining traditional climbing practices in the French Alps.
The climb requires alpine experience and proper gear for rock and snow conditions. Visitors should plan early starts and monitor weather closely, as conditions can change quickly at this elevation.
Nearby sits an alpine lake at roughly 2800 meters elevation containing zooplankton species with special adaptations to extreme altitude. This scientifically important area draws researchers studying high-altitude lake ecosystems.
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