Pointe des Arcas, Alpine summit in Hautes-Alpes, France.
Pointe des Arcas rises to 3478 meters within the Massif des Écrins range in the French Alps. The peak is surrounded by snow-covered slopes and glacial terrain that define its stark mountain character.
F. Gardiner reached the summit with C. and L. Pilkington on July 12, 1878, marking its first recorded ascent. This climb contributed to the early exploration of this less-traveled sector of the Alps during the era of mountaineering expansion.
The summit sits within Écrins National Park, established to protect the alpine landscape of this region. Visitors can experience the raw mountain environment and observe rare alpine plants and wildlife that thrive at high elevation.
The climb requires technical equipment and alpine experience due to the rocky passages and glacial terrain along the route. Climbers should ascend during stable weather conditions and go with mountain guides or experienced partners familiar with high-altitude mountaineering.
From this summit, climbers can see 200 glaciers across the surrounding peaks on clear days. This remarkable panorama often goes unnoticed by visitors focused mainly on reaching the top.
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