We had some fresh snow overnight here in Chamonix, so today we had the usual dilemma of where to ski. Trying to avoid the crowds, get some fresh tracks and hopefully ski some steeper terrain were our criteria for the day.
In the end we decided on a Brevant morning, and then when it got too warm (for the snow and avalanches) on this south facing area we could head across to the Midi and see what we could do there.
When we arrived at the top of the bubble lift, they hadn’t opened the top cable car yet, and were still blasting slopes that threatened various pistes below. We had a warm up run of the Cornu lift before dropping into the The Bozon couloir, which is an off piste run, of mostly modest angle all the way back to Chamonix.
By now the time was ticking along, and we were anxious to get going on anything steeper before the slopes got too much sun and started sloughing into the couloir. So right back onto the lift, and 45mins later we were at the top of the ENSA couloir.
This 400m couloir is a bit of a Chamonix classic, and opens out into the previous run, giving a superb 1500m descent right in front of the town centre. We waited for the team in front to get well clear and then abbed in with our two 30m ropes (40’s would have been better).
The snow was absolutely fantastic and you could go fairly quick knowing that you could put in a stop whenever you wanted. Easy conditions!
We didn’t hang about in the couloir for too long, the sun was getting onto the face and little sloughs of snow were starting to run off, so we got the full value leg pump skiing back down into the Bozon and away from any steeper slopes above us.
Mark had to bail back to work, so Gav and I refueled with Tea/Coffee at home before catching the midi lift to the summit for a run down the Envers du Plan glacier variation of the Vallee Blanche.
There was some wind blown snow, but surprisingly we found some untracked despite the light being very flat. All in all a great day in the Chamonix valley once again. Thanks Gavin and Mark for the ski, see you tomorrow!
Preparing the abseil – Photo: Gavin Pike
About to start the skiing – Photo: Gav Pike
Stop flapping your arms around Ben. – Photo: Gav Pike
Mark on the abseil
Much powder goodness
Gav Pike
Gav concentrating in the steeper upper section
Mark knee deep in the fresh
It clouded over in the afternoon but it was still good
Flat light, but could fresh tracks if you were careful
