BIG BALL

The Grand Ballon is a truly astronomical coup… High point of the Vosges massif (1,424 m altitude) it is easy to access when snow is not part of the game, and fully accessible in the winter, including when a thick layer of fresh snow covers its gentle slopes and access paths. To get there, just take the roads open on its slopes (the Cranes Road, on the other side, is closed in winter), for example from Thann, and then snake nicely until the foot of the summit via Goldbach-Altenbach. The last kilometers in winter may require the establishment of chains or the use, at minimum, of snow tires. In winter always, unless you know the place perfectly, we strongly advise you to go up the day to track the path to go to the radôme and even mark the route through a GPS. This detection avoids a few disagreements when, very close to the summit, possible locks interfere in the last hectometers. It is equally imperative to take into account the weather conditions (only a completely clear night can give the green light for such a shipment). The ideal way is to make the end of the day, attend the sunset, then descend by the same path during the evening or night. Snowshoes may be required. In all cases the climb, which lasts less than 30 minutes, must take place from the parking lot of the Grand Ballon pass (and the corresponding hotel), i. e. slope is, and not on the other side (west slope) whose path is less direct, thus more difficult (the transformed snow can be icy!). Finally, last advice: it can be very cold up there, all the more so since the wind (ice in winter) can get off the side and accentuate the sensation… Very hot clothes are therefore mandatory, as are front lamps (white or red light) for the rise or descent at night. The other basic accessories are added to this package: mobile phone with duly loaded, thermos with hot drink, cereal bars in case of fringal, foot and hands heaters in case of very cold, and photographic material (box + tripod) if you wish to immortalize the event and the celestial vault.

What do we see once up there? At this altitude and with much of the light pollution rejected in valleys and east towards the big cities, it is a small slap waiting for the visitor, caught between the quality of the sky offered, the vision on the valleys around (sometimes submerged by sea of spectacular clouds), and the ghosts of the radôme, its control building, and the Blue Diables monument a little lower. If the moon is present during the visit (in neighborhood for example), blafards and strange white reflections on snow slopes appear to be unreal. In summer, the vision is less spectacular and access is easier, it is not rare to cross a few lovers of night lights coming to impregnate the atmosphere of the place. In any case, and regardless of the number of hours spent up there, once you're down, you're coming to pinch and wonder if we really have experienced this adventure!