Chamonix from the top of the Grand MontetIt’s been a week since finishing the Pierra Menta. I’m finally recovered. My feet are good now and I have energy to tour and ski. I didn’t wait long to get back out but didn’t go crazy at first, either.
Me, Dave Searles and Ross Hewitt getting ready to sample the freshness on the l'Aiguille du PlanI started off with an easy tour up on the Plan l’Aiguille. I met Dave and Ross in line and they were headed for the same. The weekend dump had left some untracked snow up there so we figured we could find some. It was good to get up with guys who know the terrain so well.
Dave gets the nod for the first go.
We mostly contoured from the Midi mid station and headed north. I got a look at the face where Mark Twight’s Beyond Good and Evil route lies. Cool to see it in person.
After some easy powder skiing and one head plant by me, it was time to find the way down to the valley. The terrain is very imposing and bony right now and you get a good look as you head up the tram. But these guys assured me that, with some good route finding, we could locate the track that switch backs down through the woods to the main road.
We skied steep trees and some bushes through cut up powder and, eventually, moguls and avalanche debris. The track had a few bald spots but we were able to just shuffle across with skis on. It was a fun downhill adventure.
Yep, BGE is up there if you know where to look. The next day I went back up for more and repeated the tour. The only difference is that I followed a higher track which led to a steep boot pack going god knows where. It looked cool and I had crampons so up I went. Unfortunately, at a rocky crux, the toe bail of my lightweight-racing crampon snapped. Not good. At least I was able to down climb safely. It bugged me that this could have happened in the Pierra Menta but the crampon section was eliminated due to weather. Note to self.
Second tram on the Grand MontetAfter another day of eating and napping I decided it was time for some real exercise. I headed up the Grand Montet after my landlord told me to go check out the Col du Argentiere. There’s quite a bit of glacier travel but the route is beat in and relatively safe. I scoped out the map beforehand and decided I should try and bag two of the classic tours in that area.
The sunny side of the Argentiere GlacierI wasn’t completely positive I was going up the right col until I reached the top and asked a fellow which col I was at. He assured me I was at the Col du Argentiere. There was some good powder on the way down and within 10 minutes I was back at the base of the 1,000-meter climb.
The daunting north faces of Les Courtes, Les Droites and the l'Aiguille VerteFeeling good, I scooted over to the next drainage and headed up for the Col du Tour Noire, the shorter of the two classic outings. It had crappier snow, getting more sun and was much flatter. It still gained nearly 1,000 meters but did so with more linear distance. The descent was more straight lining at the top and survival skiing through the refrozen mank at the bottom.
I came from the low point on the right most ridge of the l'Aiguille Verte, just where the rocks stopIt took me about 4 hours to do both. Satisfied, I started the long cruise down the Argentiere Glacier, which was fun and easy and I easily found the track that cut back into the Grand Montet ski area. I stopped at the mid level and had a coffee with my remaining Panne au chocolate. After that it was an easy 1,000 meters down slushy groomers to the bus.
My new favorite recovery meal