Ice
The area boasts enough ice to keep any climber happy.
Routes around the Briançon area alone go into the hundreds, there is even a route in the local park which is floodlit at night for that after work ice fix!

There is a local ice climbing guide "Cascades des Glace - Briançon - Argentiérois - Embrunais " this is available in all local climbing shops for around €20
The climbing continues West through to La Grave and on to Aple du Huez. See "Cascades - Oisans aux 6 Vallées" volumes I & II
There are about 1000 routes in these guides, most of which is within a half hour drive

An annual ice climbing event is held each January in l´Argentière -la-Bessée, the village is about 15 minutes by car towards Embrun on the N94. The event has competitions, supplier fair, film shows, and even a free shuttle bus to take you to the local ice falls

See Ice-fall for more information, dates and local ice condition reports.

Rock
With well over 1000 routes within about a half hour drive from town there is plenty to go at.

There is a mixture of bolted and traditional climbing, single and multi pitch.

There are local shops selling gear and route guides and there are climbing schools and guides available year round.

Grades range widely from 3's to 6c's and maybe even higher

There are several notable crags that are excellent for low grade climbing, maybe if you like severes or hard severes. Usually, if you can comfortably climb at grade severe outdoors then climbing a 4+ or 5 at Tournoux or Terre Rouge should not be a problem for you. the holds are good, solid and positive, and if you want to bag an easy(ish) 6b and 6c then this is the place to do it!

Via Feratta
Via Ferrata is the name commonly used to describe the high level footpaths found in the Alps that use fixed cables for protection and steel ladders to surmount difficult sections.

Originally via Ferrata were constructed in the Italian Dolomites and Austrian Tyrol to enable troop movements in during the First World War. After the war these protected high level paths were taken over by mountain guides who used them as an easy way to get clients to the foot of climbs. Gradually the network was extended by these guides and via ferratas became a pastime in their own right.

Via Ferrata are very enjoyable and highly popular, and give nearly everyone an opportunity to move through spectacular and often extremely exposed alpine scenery with a minimum of equipment.

See 'Toutes les Via Ferrata de France' (also available in English).

Mountaineering
The Ecrins Massif has a character of its own and people visiting for the first time might be in for a shock if they expect to see terrain similar to other alpine regions.

That said it is extremely popular especially amongst the french. Most of the mountains are of modest altitude and the weather in the area is generally better than in the mountains further North.

Briancon claims to have 300 sunny days per year, perhaps this has an influence on the snow cover although plently of snow falls in the winter. As a consequence there are relatively few easy snow plods and much more emphasis on rock ridges and faces.

A good guide in English is "Ecrins Massif" by John Brailsford. The selection of routes takes account of this pattern with fewer climbs in the lower grade of difficulty than is usual.

Winter:
Skiing :: downhill, cross country, touring
Snowboarding
Ice Climbing
Mountaineering
Snow Shoeing

Summer:
Walking
Cycling & Mountain Biking
Swimming
Golf
Fishing
Kayaking
Canyonning
White Water Rafting
Parapente
Etc, Etc...