Olan (mountain)

Olan
The north-west face of the Olan
Elevation	3,564 m (11,693 ft)
Location
Olan Hautes-Alpes/Isère,  France
Range	Dauphiné Alps
Coordinates	44°51′32″N 6°11′48″E / 44.85889°N 6.19667°E / 44.85889; 6.19667Coordinates: 44°51′32″N 6°11′48″E / 44.85889°N 6.19667°E / 44.85889; 6.19667
Climbing
First ascent	August 1880 Pierre Gaspard (father), Ch. Roderon and A. Cust
Easiest route	North ridge (rock, AD, II)

The Olan (l'Olan in French) (3564 m) is a mountain in the Massif des Écrins in the French Alps. It dominates the valleys of Valgaudemar, Valjouffrey, and Vénéon in the heart of Écrins National Park.

Climbing

The first ascent of the mountain was made by Pierre Gaspard (father), Ch. Roderon and A. Cust in August 1880.

The great classical routes of the Olan are difficult, and the poor quality of the rock makes the climbing quite dangerous. Routes on the north-west side, from the Font-Turbat refuge, include: north ridge (AD), Couzy-Desmaison (ED), Devies-Gervasutti (TD), and the Candau ridge (D). [1]. On the south-west face is the 'Pilier Nounours' (Teddy Bear pillar, TD), a modern route that was well equipped with bolts by J-M. Cambon.

Geology

The Olan is made of a granite base, with a gneiss "hat" (see photos on [2]).

Huts

• Refuge de Font-Turbat (north side)
• Refuge de l'Olan (south side)

External links

• The Écrins on SummitPost
• Refuge de Font-Turbat
• Refuge de l'Olan