Dauphine Alps

Part of the Western Alps, the Dauphine, located entirely within France, is a compact region of large peaks with long summit ridges, rising above long stony valleys. The mountains, 23 of which rise above 12,000 feet, are well covered by glaciers, ice and snow. The highlight of the range is Ecrins, a steep and rugged glaciated pyramid, the only 4,000 meter peak in the range. The range is far enough south that the Mediterranean has considerable climatic influence, and the weather is generally gentler than elsewhere in the Alps.