Great High Mountain Course

This year, the Grand Parcours Alpinisme returns to the Vénéon Valley to once again tackle the beautiful, iconic faces around La Bérarde, in the magical setting of the untamed Oisans region! So don’t hesitate—join us September 18–20, 2026, at the base camp in Venosc for the 16th edition of the Grand Parcours Escalade - Montagne!

This event is organized by the FFCAM OLGA - Deux Alpes Escalade club and the Isère Departmental Committee of the FFCAM.


To fully experience life in the heart of the mountains, participants will spend the night in a mountain hut. Participants will be welcomed in Venosc starting Friday afternoon.

VALUES:
- Guidance that ensures high-quality instruction and optimal safety.
- An environmentally friendly organization that minimizes carbon-intensive travel.
- Creating a friendly gathering.
- Organizing an eco-friendly event.
- Involving local stakeholders in the organization.
- Budget-friendly.

Schedule:
FRIDAY:
- Group bike ride from Grenoble (optional, unsupervised)
- Welcome reception for participants starting at 4:00 p.m. at the Vénosc multipurpose hall (across from the cable car); group assignments; insurance verification
- Art exhibitions in the multipurpose hall
- Friendly vegetarian dinner starting at 7:00 PM by reservation; if you arrive later, we’ll keep your meal warm (more or less) until 10:00 PM! (optional when registering, free for participants traveling to Vénosc via sustainable transportation from the valley)
- A social evening open to the general public with a refreshment stand starting at 8:30 p.m.
- Overnight stay at the Cascade Campground in Vénosc, a few hundred meters from the multipurpose hall (included in the registration fee).

SATURDAY:
- Breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. (included in registration)
- Welcome remarks from the organizers and the Vénosc town hall at 8:30 a.m. (subject to availability)
- Group formation and equipment check with instructors
- Starting at 9:00 a.m., a day of technical workshops at a natural climbing site: learning or reviewing rope techniques, managing rock climbs in the mountains, and placing nuts (depending on the groups)
- Bring your own picnic lunch (NOT INCLUDED in the registration fee)
- Vegetarian dinner at 7:00 p.m. (included in the registration fee)
- Evening event with entertainment and/or a concert, open to the general public, with a refreshment stand in Vénosc at 8:30 p.m.
- Overnight stay at the Vénosc campground (included in the registration fee)
- For the group doing the Soreiller ridge climb, Saturday night will be spent in a mountain hut; therefore, an additional fee of 30 euros will be charged at registration

SUNDAY:
- Breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. (included in the registration fee)
- Starting at 8:00 a.m.: multi-pitch climbing, via ferrata, alpine hiking, practical climbing route (schedules to be adjusted based on the groups)
- Bring your own picnic lunch (NOT INCLUDED in registration)
- 5:00–6:00 p.m.: Return to the Vénosc campground and group get-together to wrap up the weekend
- 6:00 PM: Group return to Grenoble by bike (optional, unsupervised)

The final program will be provided closer to the event. The schedule is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

RIDGE CLIMBING ROUTE
Whether you want to discover or improve your rock climbing skills, navigate on a tight rope in undeveloped terrain, learn to lead a rope team, or simply complete an easy climb. After a review session on Saturday, our goal will be to put your new skills into practice during a rock-climbing route along ridges in the Soreiller massif (adapted to suit the groups and conditions).

Prerequisites:
Know how to tie a figure-eight knot
Know how to rappel
Be proficient at lead climbing on single-pitch routes at a 5c level
Be proficient at climbing multi-pitch routes as a second at a 5c level
Be physically fit enough to cover 1,200 meters of elevation gain in about 3 hours, carrying a backpack, without being “completely exhausted”
[Optional] Have some prior experience with mountaineering and high-altitude climbing

COURSE - BRING A FRIEND
Are you a woman who climbs and want to bring a friend along for a weekend to learn multi-pitch climbing with other women and have the chance to lead? Then sign up together for the “Bring a Friend” course. This all-female group, led by women, will help you improve in a supportive atmosphere and challenge the stereotypes that women aren’t capable of fending for themselves in the mountains. In short, these are the strong values the FFCAM aims to promote for a more inclusive approach to climbing and mountaineering!
After a review session on Saturday, our goal will be to complete a multi-pitch route rated 4 to 5c/6a.

Required skills:
Know how to tie a figure-eight knot
Use a belay device (such as a Reverso) to belay while leading
Place quickdraws and clip them into anchors
Have prior experience with outdoor climbing at a minimum grade of 4c

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