Written by The last week has provided the first stable weather for a while and its been time to get out and do some cardio vascular exercise and get used to my new touring set up. The first day I went up Col du Chardonnet with thoughts of the south face of the Chardonnet in mind but on approaching the col it had been skied the day previously day so I will wait for another time to get fresh tracks. I skied back down towards the argentiere glacier and took the central couloir under the Chardonnet glacier which provided some nice turns on firm cold snow. With a cold wind blowing the snow had stayed cold and being midday there was still time to zip up the col du passon and ski along the ridge to check out some of those southerly aspects. The wind had created sastrugi, crusts and slabs so it was like being back home.
The next day I was joined by Michelle and Philip Ebert and we went into the Aiguille Rouge with the intention to ski the East Couloir on the Floria and the Northerly aspect of the Belvedere. A quick inspection of the Floria revealed the wind had stripped the snow in the couloir so we went to the Col du Bevedere. The snow off the summit didnt inspire us and with loads of parties abseiling off the col we skied round to the Beugeant and then over the Encrenaz down to Buet. Here the trees yielded some superb powder skiing at the end of the day.
Ross Hewitt Guiding 