Preparing for a winter raid and pulka sledding in the Vercors!
In summary
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Sports
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Duration4 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationIsère / Vercors Massif
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AgeAccessible to all ages
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CO₂-Emissions20.92 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Embark on a micro-adventure in France, in the heart of the "little Scandinavia" of the Vercors high plateaus, an ideal experience to prepare for a real expedition in the Far North.
The varied terrain, alternating between ascents, descents, marked trails, and completely untouched areas, allows us to simulate the different types of obstacles we will encounter in the Arctic: smooth and cracked sea ice, blown glaciers, and fresh snow. Thus, sometimes our pulka will be behind us or in front, sometimes we will sled, or we will team up to overcome the most difficult obstacles. A true course in snow-related progression awaits us, accompanied by a guide specializing in the Arctic and polar regions.
The aim of this training course is to prepare for an Arctic expedition by testing physical, mental, and technical skills in managing the cold, self-sufficiency in an isolated environment, and handling the logistics of loading pulkas, setting up camp, and living in a community. All of this takes place amidst the magnificent wild landscapes of the Vercors, which provide a superb training ground.
The highlights
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Winter road trips with a far northern feel, right on your doorstep.
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A guide specializing in polar regions
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All the equipment provided, just like at our bases
Photos
Sport
Level
Snowshoeing
The expert's opinion
Moderate, approximately 4 to 6 hours of walking per day.
This course doesn't present any particular physical challenges, but at this time of year, the cold and strong winds can sometimes be intense and put us in harsh conditions. To fully appreciate and enjoy this trip, you need to love winter life and outdoor activities and not be afraid of the cold. This is a participatory course where you will be actively involved.
This trip is not suitable for children, but for young adults aged 16 and over, provided they are used to practicing outdoor activities at a sustained level: hiking, mountain biking, skiing, sailing, etc.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average daily elevation gain: 217 m
- Average daily descent: 167 m
Snowshoes
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average daily elevation gain: 50 m
- Average daily descent: 150 m
Management
French
This course is led by a mountain guide, a specialist in one or more Arctic regions and who has already led winter training sessions at our Nordic bases.
The aim of this course is to train you, with the experience of an instructor, in multiple details and procedures that will be useful to you during a future winter trip to the Arctic.
Based in the Alps for many years, our local agency guarantees a successful active travel experience, thanks to our guides and logistical infrastructure. During your trip, you'll be accompanied by our adventure guides, fully committed to helping you discover unique places in the heart of nature. Let us guide you...
Program
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Combeau Valley: the adventure begins!
- Transportation Minibus - 01h30 - 1km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 350 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Meet us early in the morning at Grenoble train station for our transfer to the Vercors mountains. The adventure begins with trying on snowshoes and pulkas, the expedition sleds that will carry all our equipment. We'll head up towards the Chamousset plain to reach the Vercors High Plateaus, a pristine 170 km² area. It's in this exceptional setting that we'll set up our first bivouac. We'll learn about water management, meals in the mess tent, and sleeping in heavy-duty sleeping bags... a taste of Nordic expeditions!
Day 1 -
The heart of the Vercors High Plateaus
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After a warm night in our expedition sleeping bags, we meet our guide for a hearty breakfast in the mess tent. We break camp and load our pulkas, quickly getting into the swing of things. We head due north into a wild and sparsely populated area. This immersive experience demands cohesion and adaptability to fully appreciate the serenity offered by the vast snow-covered landscapes.
Day 2 -
Progression, exploration and summits
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Today, we're gaining altitude, aiming for one of the many peaks that dot the plateaus. Depending on the conditions, we'll explore this unique environment with or without our pulkas for greater freedom of movement. From the ridges, the immensity of the mountain range unfolds before us. Our guide helps us decipher the countless signs of life on the snowpack. At the end of the day, we carefully choose our bivouac site based on the weather.
Day 3 -
End of this Pulka bivouac trip
- Transportation Minibus - 01h30 - 12km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 50 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Early in the morning, we might be lucky enough to spot a black grouse or a ptarmigan. We remain extremely discreet so as not to disturb this fragile wildlife in the depths of winter. Our expedition resumes its trek towards the Combeau valley for a final shared picnic overlooking the vast open spaces. A transfer takes us back to Grenoble train station in the late afternoon, our heads still full of our trapper memories.
Day 4
Note
Accommodation
Bivouac in a 2-person tent (3-person tent adapted to the conditions encountered).
During the raid, accommodation is in tents. Lightweight three-person tents are shared in pairs, perfectly suited to winter bivouac conditions. A large mess tent provides shelter for sharing meals and convivial moments.
The guide will explain the specifics of life on the camp (camp organization, safety equipment, etc.).
Tent setup:
If you are travelling alone, you will automatically be accommodated in a shared tent with another participant of the same sex.
Access
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- Travel and activities as described in the program
- Bivouac accommodation
- The meals mentioned as included in the program
- Loan of snowshoes, poles, pulkas
- Loan of bivouac equipment: tents, mattresses, sleeping bags adapted to the conditions.
- The provision of collective and safety equipment
- Supervision by a specialist tour guide
The price does not include
- The delivery to Grenoble
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
Passport: no
Visa: no
Identity card: yes
Vaccines: no
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
We will provide you with high-quality equipment that is impressively lightweight, so that you can have a pleasant stay without suffering any discomfort.
- Equipment for the group: Camping: A 12-14 person "Tepee" type mess tent, a stove, collective cooking equipment, a personal mess kit and cutlery, a first aid kit.
- Equipment per person: Camping: A 3-person expedition tent for 2 people, a synthetic sleeping bag of -25°C, a self-inflating mattress such as Thermarest, waterproof bags for your personal belongings, snowshoes, poles, pulka.
Equipment to bring
- A sleeping bag liner (to be used in sleeping bags for hygiene reasons)
- A small toiletry bag with the bare essentials and, if possible, biodegradable products (wipes, toothpaste, toothbrush)
- A lip balm
- Sunscreen (face and lips)
- Individual toilet paper
- An insulated thermos to keep your drink hot at lunchtime
- A Tupperware container, cutlery, and a cup
- A water bottle of at least 1 liter
- A ski mask
- High-protection sunglasses
- A headlamp, with spare batteries and bulbs
- A specialty from your region to discover and share together (excluding alcohol)
Optional:
- A knife
- An external battery (to be placed in carry-on luggage)
- A camera
- An inflatable pillow
- A pair of binoculars
- Some hand warmers
Clothing to bring
Plan for a "3-layer" system:
For clothing, the layering method is best. This involves wearing several layers of clothing, including...
Layers closer to the body allow sweat to escape easily. Other layers retain heat or
protect the body from external conditions.
1/ The base layer (directly against the skin)
Complete warm underwear set (tights and long-sleeved top)
2/ The intermediate layer
A warm sweater or thick fleece.
3/ The outer layer
It protects you from the wind and snow. We recommend a Gore-Tex type jacket or a warm ski jacket.
Basic rules
1. Loose-fitting clothing
Choose clothes in which you feel comfortable and do not wear them tightly fitted.
2. Insulated or waterproof clothing
Choosing the right materials, for the right diapers.
3. The extremities
A large part of the heat is lost through the head. As with the rest of the body, the 3 layers apply to the extremities: the head, the hands and the feet.
4. Getting dressed and undressed
You need to know how to put on and take off different layers of clothing depending on the situation.
5. Avoid humidity
You need to move to "create" heat, but without sweating...
Equipment list to bring:
- A pair of shoes suitable for snowshoeing must have several qualities: a high upper, a minimum of rigidity, warmth and suitability for winter, and waterproofing. (These shoes are compatible with both snowshoes and Nordic touring skis.) Sorel boots are ideal (Caribou or Glacier models).
- A jacket with a hood if possible (Gore-Tex type or equivalent)
- Ski touring trousers or overalls, or a windbreaker (Gore-Tex type or equivalent)
- A thick fleece jacket - synthetic or natural fiber
- A lightweight fleece
- A lightweight and compressible down jacket
- Two thick, collared, long-sleeved t-shirts (polypropylene, fleece or wool)
- Two thin, long-sleeved t-shirts (no cotton, synthetic or wool, worn directly against the skin)
- Two pairs of long underwear (polypropylene - fleece - wool)
- A few pairs of thin and thick socks (wool - polypropylene, to be worn over the thin ones)
- A thick-collared balaclava and a thin balaclava
- A beanie
- A pair of thick (wool) gloves
- A pair of overmitts
- A pair of thick, windproof gloves (windstopper or Gore-Tex)
- A pair of inner gloves
- Personal underwear (merino wool bras are highly recommended)
They traveled with us
