Friday, May 21, 2010

Spencer Couloir

The high winds this week have pretty much destroyed the skiing in the high alpine so we decieded to check out the Spencer couloir above the Nantillons glacier hoping the snow might have been a bit more preserved. To access the Spencer you have to uptrack from the mid station of the Aiguille du Mid up the Nantillons glaciers, its a bit of a unique ski line that you actually have to skin for it! Its a very steep wandering line to avoid being below sercas which required far too many kick turns and lots of boot packing. Didnt end up skiing the actual couloir as we were concerned about some windslab instabilities. All in all a great trip.

Forgot my camera this day but stole some pic from my ski partners website, dont tell him.





Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Tour Ronde North Face

Climbed up the North Face last spring and was baffled that people would ski down such a steep face above a huge cliff. So not sure what changed but it didnt take too much to talk me into heading up to ski the North Face this week. Turns out its not that bad.


Tour Ronde North Face. Im sure you can guess the line...


Skining with the Grand Cap and Mnt Maudit in the background


The Tacul and Mnt Maduit in the background


Skiing the upper face with the Dru, Aiguille Vert, Droites, Courtes in the distance


Upper face






Rappeling a 90m Ice Gully


About to ski the lower face

Monday, May 17, 2010

Col du Plan, Eugster

Thankfully after 16 days of rain the clouds parted and we can finally starting skiing some on the more exciting runs around Chamonix. We skiied two runs on the north face of the Aguille du Mid today: the Col du Plan and the Euguster.




Dropping into the upper face


Looking up at the upper face


Rapping into the lower couloir


The Col du Plan


Aguille du Midi North Face showing the line of the Eugster


Skiing on the upper face


Tom pausing on the upper face


The first sidestepping crux of the decent


After the first rappel into the Eugster couloir proper


The crux drop of the lower Eugster couloir

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Cosmiques Ridge


Some people rapping in to some gnarness off the bridge of the Aiguille du Midi






The summit pitch...to the gondola station

Monday, May 10, 2010

First Peak in Cham

Been here 10 days all of which have been filled with hours apon hours of rain. Feel like im back in Squamish, which funnily enough looks like is having great weather. But never the less the days have been action packed with trying to decide if i like cappicinos or noisette coffee more or attending one on the many season ending parties at the local bars and resturants.
Lately the skiing has turned around and with almost 100cm of new the by now the skiing is quite good. Yesterday took an afternoon run up the Aigulle d'Argentiere for great steep skiing snow and the first summit of the trip

The Grands Montets Ski Area

A warning that should not be taken lightly here


Mont Blanc and the Midi

Aiguille de Chardonnet and Aiguille d'Argentiere

A near summit self portrait

Decent