UKC

Hi, I've just discovered this site after a long break from alpine mountaineering.

I'm looking for suggestions for 3000m + peaks, preferably France (Ecrins) or Italy, F or PD to start with. I never climbed higher than HVS so I'd prefer mixed or snow routes.

TIA

Castor PD+ from Italy. Best day we ever had! 

“Classic Routes in the Ecrins” by Seb Constant is available in English and contains lots. Published in 2018 so relatively up to date with the changes caused by glacial retreat.

My suggestion (although I’m not an especially experienced Alpinist) would be to go out there at the right time of year then take local advice as to current  conditions.  Snow cover seems to be very variable year to year, especially early season.

And welcome to the site!

I remember doing Pollux ( Also PD+), from Zermatt, then went into Italy and stayed at the Refugio Val d'Ayas hut. Next day we did Castor and then the Breithorn (F) on the way back to Zermatt. Great fun.

+1 for the Constant topos.

Nevertheless from my experience, a "F" grade in Ecrins often has much more and more difficult rock than the snow plods in Valle d'Aosta!

E.g. Pic Coolidge is rated F containing an UIAA III- crux and quite a lot of scrambling and route finding. 

Same for Rateau, F/F+ but rock III.

La Tresenta(3600m) from the Vittorio Emmanuel hut and Gran Paradise the next day

You'd have to be an acrobat to do those routes.