La Breche (The Keyhole)

Managed to catch the Index lift up at La Flegere on our day off this week and teamed up with a couple of friends to go Touring. The index has been stricken with technical difficulties this season and is currently running really slow with only half the chairs on it (when it is running at all). This is a great problem for the Flegere domain as it blocks off about 85% of the domain when it is shut.

Anyroadup, we caught it running and managed to access the Floria drag lift to get to the base of the Col Crochue to start skinning out of the domain. The traverse round after the Crochue was a little varied with wind affected snow, soft stuff and great wavy crust as well. Put skins back on below the Berard and headed up towards the Breche.

Lunch in the sun before climbing through the keyhole and to our surprise there was fresh fluffy white stuff on the other side. I think with the Index problems only a few people had been through and we had lovely fresh tracks all the way into the Buet Valley.

Hamish between the 2 ups.

Breezy & Sauze on the way up to the keyhole

Sauze and Breezy climbing up to the keyhole after lunch in the sun

A few shots of Breezy ripping up the powder on the descent into Buet Valley

Chamonix Deaths

Came across this which shows some interesting stats for Chamonix Deaths.

Couloir Bellin

Snow conditions were good on Thursday up at Le Brevent so we hit the Couloir under the main face of the Top Bin.


Couloir of Le Brevent, Chamonix, France. The top 50m was a little icy but soft snow after that. Having exited the couloir we entered the cloud as there was an inversion in the valley. Immediately on skiers right after exiting there was an amount of avalanche debris under the fresh snow. The ski down was in great condition all the way to the carpark.
http://www.skibreezy.com

Col de Dard

Snowing again today but it was a blue sky and powder in Chamonix Valley on Thursday. Breezy and I headed up to La Flegere with a couple of friends to skin up to Lac Blanc and on up to Col de Dard.

Had amazing snow on the way down, fresh tracking powder. Yipee!!!

Courmayeur

Blue Skies this week and stable weather so Breezy and I decided to take a road trip through the tunnel to Courmayeur yesterday. All the lifts are open including the Val Veny just through the tunnel which is great for Chamonix folk. This lift was not open until after Christmas due to lack of snow.

Over in Italy it definitely seems as though they have had half the snow fall that Chamonix side of Mont Blanc has. Off piste has been wind blasted and the top of the Youla lift has been scoured down to rock where the metal barriers are. In the trees towards the Bertolini is still soft where it is untracked but still quite thin in most places.

The pistes are in excellent condition though lower slopes were showing signs of earth coming through by the end of the day.

So I guess that Chamonix has been the lucky ones this season regarding snow fall. Italy still does amazing food, customer service and it is cheap. But if it is off piste skiing you need for your well being then get your arse booked in to a catered chalet in Chamonix.

Sun on the horizon

The snow just seems to have been relentless of late. Despite the avalanche rating of 5/5 Breezy and I managed a few runs from the mid station of the Aig du Midi. Perfect untracked light powder for the top 2/3rds and then slightly heavier and chopped up lower down on the exit.

Prior to that the snow at Grand Montets has been fantastic. The off piste is very well filled in although the high avalanche risk has been closing higher lifts periodically over the last few days.

We also got out of the valley for a day of tree skiing at Megeve for a friend's Birthday which was great. Deep and steep in the trees which also gave perspective on a blizzardy day down the valley.

The sun is due to make an appearance for the next couple of days so starting to plot where to go to rip up the freshies.

Visitors in the garden

Well Breezy & I started with the one on the left just outside the patio doors of the chalet. The guests built a mate alongside.