"Friday 10th August 2018. An ascent of l’Arpelin 2604m/125m, from Col d’Izoard (2360m), Cottian Alps, France. 2.6km, with 275m of ascent. 1hr 40mins. From Col d’Izoard, a road col frequently used in the Tour de France, a rugged serrated ridge called Crête des Oules runs eastward, forming a cirque, and culminating in the soaring peak of Pic de Rochebrune (3320m). On the western rim of this cirque is l’Arpelin, a subsidiary peak of the twin-topped Côte Belle (2914m). I had viewed this graceful mountain across Col d’Izoard on my ascent of Clot la Cime (2732m) four days earlier (see at https://peakery.com/clos-la-cime-france/summits/179264/), and was keen to make its ascent. Its sweeping ridges, plunging slopes of limestone scree, and sharp summit made it a challenge I was keen to accept. The north ridge was the obvious route to the top, starting from the Col d’Izoard. It would be a short outing, but in dramatic scenery. We parked the car at the col, taking a narrow path north-east towards le Col Perdu, the connecting col between l’Arpelin and Côte Belle. As we approached this point, my wife decided to turn back, as she was finding the plunging scree slopes to her..." — marktrengove • Aug 10, 2018