A bit late posting this one – as we leave summer behind my mind has turned to Skiing and reminded me of last season’s exploits…. With another Scottish ski season written off, I headed back to Chamonix to scratch my skiing itch before summer arrived with old chum Lester and his ski crazy brother Riley. It was mid-April and conditions were already great for touring. Like Scotland, the Alps this year had a warm spring meaning everything was ahead of schedule – in fact the first large scale ascents of Monte Blanc this year were already underway. My sights however were not on Europe’s highest mountain, or any of Chamonix’s other extreme summits, I really just wanted to get some basic touring time under my belt.
The pictures really speak for themselves!
Day 1 – Midi to Aigulle de Toule – Valley Blanche https://www.camptocamp.org/waypoints/39678/fr/aiguille-de-toule
A perfect first day on the glacier, skinning from the top of the Midi to the Italian border and boot packing with Riley up Aigulle de Toule. Stunning views from a tiny peak amongst giants, and a somewhat nervous hard packed steep ski off the top, before joining the infamous Valley Blanche, which was not in the best condition!
Day 2 – Midi to Col du Tacul and back (not down into Leschaux Glacier) – http://www.chamonixtopo.com/skiing/col-du-tacul/
Again from the Midi, but this time with Lester we headed down the glacier before skinning up toward Col Du Tacol, another easy tour picked for me. Dodging crevasses and trying our best before to avoid the numerous large seracs above us, we gained good height only to find we missed the clear route to the col du Tacol – a steep bootpack to a high pass which we would have rappelled / skied off. Time for the last lift would have been tight, so the decision to cruise down the glacier was an easy one. Another fab day touring in glorious weather. Unfortunately, a couple of days’ low pressure put the brakes on a hut trip, but with a fresh dusting of snow we headed up Les Grand Montets for a late season resort day – tough life!
Day 3 – GM to col d’Argentieire (Rougues du Dolent Glacier Variation) – http://www.chamonixtopo.com/skiing/col-dargentiere/ and https://davesearle.me/2012/03/
The last day touring was definitely the best, heading up the GM lift we cut off piste and down towards the Argentieire glacier, a huge open bowl surrounded by amazing peaks. Again, the pictures really speak to themselves. We got high enough too that we hit some fresh powder and the ski down was incredible. A big highlight was watching someone ski an incredibly steep face across the valley – definitely something to think about considering the enjoyment and challenges I faced on even the easiest of tours!
An awesome week – thank you Lester! And I can’t not mention the 3am taps aff Apres still in our ski boots… Classic! Turns out touring boots have 3 options, walk, ski and lash.
