August 26 to 27, 2006 Pilar, Jean-Pierre, Clement, Yours Truly Elevation: 4015 m Where: Parc National des Ecrins Pilar, Clement, YT.  Barre des Ecrins in the clouds. The two most essential pieces of equipment in French        alpine climbing: an ice axe and a pair of baguettes. Refuge du Glacier Blanc. Le Glacier Blanc. Mont Pelvoux (3946 m) on the left. Le Refuge des Ecrins (3170m). Day 2: 5:30am start. "Putains d'  crampons." The summit.  La Barre des Ecrins on the left and the Dome on        the right shoulder. "Putains de putains d'  crampons." "Eh bin j'en ai mare deja d' ses putains d' crampons." Nearing the summit with the Glacier Blanc below. Final icy summit pitch. Huzzah, the  summit!  4015 m!  60km/h winds! View down South face towards the Mont Pelvoux area. Rapping off the summit with a group of Basque climbers below. YT, Pilar, Jean-Cailloux and Clement.  Man, I wish I'd brought        my skis! Back in the parking lot, after 15 hours on the go at altitude, with way too much sun,        and a 2000 m descent!