Benjamin Védrines completes solo winter ski mountaineering traverse of Queyras mountains, France

Between 6 and 7 January 2023 the French mountain guide Benjamin Védrines took skis, climbing skins and not much else and embarked on a "0 km" adventure across the Queyras mountains in SE France. "Demanding, wild, varied and exhausting, this is what I remember" is how Védrines described the adventure on his social media. "I set myself one rule: do not cross any roads or villages".

The result was a dive into the heart of the French Alps, one continuous linkup of ascents and descent, though some of the most beautiful valleys and peaks in the Western Alps. "I hadn’t experienced such an intense new adventure since my expedition to Pakistan." That was back in July 2022, when Védrines climbed from base camp to the top of Broad Peak in a record time of 7 hours and 28 minutes, before paragliding quickly back down to the base of the mountain. Now there’s his new traverse, across his backyard mountains at great speed. "I needed it" he concluded, after having waited for precisely the right moment, with precisely the right conditions.

The route
An imaginary line, comprised of peaks, hills and descents in search of the perfect curve and incredible views across the Alps where there are no borders. Just one goal: enjoy nature, listening to sound of his own breath while his heartbeat set his pace and rhythm. "I remember the herd of Chamois I disturbed in the Cristillan valley, the rock ptarmigan that I was able to admire under the Clauzis pass, the splendid golden eagle that sailed above me at Clot-la-Cime. All this indomitable, magical nature, just a stone's throw from home."

Starting from Vars, on the first day Benjamin Védrines covered a distance of 64 kilometers negotiating "superb sections such as Brèche des Heuvières, the Tête du Rissace, or even the Col Sellière" with its majestic view of Monviso. He then reached the Jervis hut in Valle Pellice, having totalled 5930m elevation gain, "plus 50 meters of mistakes" jokes the Frenchman.

The second day began with the moon still high in the sky, illuminating Védrines’ route. First he ascended towards Le Mait d'Amunt, then descended "valleys I didn't know. The valley of Saint Martin, that of Thures. Names to which I now associate an emotion. The purple, red and yellow of the sunrise from I witnessed from Crêtes de Reychasse;, the warmth of the deep blue sky, and the wind at Col de Rasis."

Further on he tackled Grand Glaiza, or Punta Merciantaira, at 3293m the highest point he reached during his solo traverse. And then on to Col de l’Izoard, followed by hundreds more vertical meters. "I suffered due to the length of the route" explains Védrines. "I had to stay motivated and alert during the descents on poor snow. What kept me going was the desire to savour every moment of this adventure, fuelled by the places I was seeing.”

Then, after 14 hours, 73.5 kilometers and 6355 meters of elevation gain, he reached the small village of Villard. "That evening the moon was above Crête des Chalanches, providing a beautiful spectacle. Absolutely magnificent!"

by Gian Luca Gasca