SAMAYA x ADRIEN & ANTOINE
MINIMALIST BIVOUAC AT GRAND PIC DE LA MEIJE
When the mountains call, there are those who respond with everything necessary, and those who choose to travel light. Adrien and Antoine fall into the latter category. With Samaya ULTRA PACE (20 L) and a clear objective in mind, they set out to climb the Grand Pic de la Meije with a minimalist approach, focusing on efficiency and simplicity. This is an account in which every choice of equipment, every stage of the climb, was guided by the desire to get closer to the essentials.
The initial idea was simple: a mountain outing with a bivouac, but in conditions where every detail would be thought through to optimize efficiency. After a last-minute change of plan due to uncertain weather conditions in Chamonix, Plan B was the obvious choice: the Grand Pic de la Meije. A historic race in the Écrins massif, the superlatives used by Rébuffat in "Les 100 plus belles" still seem valid 50 years on, and the weather conditions were just right. Although a great classic, this traverse is not without its challenges, and is often completed in two or three days, with two nights in a refuge.
Leaving La Grave in the morning, the aim was to reach the Promontoire hut in the early afternoon for a first lunch break. After a quick traverse of the Enfetchores and the Glacier de la Meije, the refuge is reached, the snack enjoyed, and the first difficulties begun. With the summit of the Grand Pic in their sights, they set up camp. This approach not only allowed them to split the race in two and spread the effort, but also to climb during the day, avoiding the risks of night-time headlamp climbing on tricky rock. What's more, the time difference meant they could be on their own during the climb, at the bivouac, and for the traverse of the ridges the following day. "We knew that those who slept in the refuge still had 4 to 6 hours of climbing ahead of them before reaching the summit," recalls Adrien.
The equipment taken along was carefully chosen: a 20-liter Samaya ULTRA PACE bag containing the bare essentials - quilts, mattresses, bivy, popotes and freeze-dried food, as well as rope, harness, crampons, ice axe and everything else needed to protect progress. This choice enabled Adrien and Antoine to remain light and fast, an undeniable advantage when working in the high mountains.
An essential part of this minimalist approach was the management of water and food. By carrying flasks in the front of the pack, they were able to hydrate continuously without having to stop to take out a water bottle. This strategy enabled them to maintain a good pace, especially during the climb. Before the bivouac, they filled up with water at the Promontoire refuge, then at the Glacier Carré, a crucial stage as there was no water available at the summit.
"The bag makes you forget about it," says Adrien. "When you start running or setting the pace, it merges with your back, leaving you free to move. What's more, having the flasks handy and the bars accessible means you can feed and hydrate without wasting time."
The night at the summit was marked by a magical moment: the appearance of a Brocken spectre, where Adrien's shadow was projected onto the mist, giving the impression of an additional presence. "There were three of us at the summit," he jokes, recalling the shadow that stayed with them until sunset.
The next day, the traverse of the ridges was just as magnificent up to the Doigt de Dieu, before descending to the other side of the massif. This rapid descent, although well controlled, was made easier by the lightness of the rucksack, enabling us to maintain a good pace without being thrown off balance, either on the glacier or on the path.
Finally, the return to La Grave before 3pm, after a successful crossing, was greeted with the satisfaction of accomplishment. "That's the magic of it all," Adrien concludes. "You live an intense adventure, you spend an unforgettable night at the top, and you're just as happy to get back to your bed and shower in the evening."
