Skied a 2300m descent of the Brenva Glacier via the Southwest Couloir of the Tour Ronde with Cedric and Guilleme. It was the fourth day since the snow storm, and so, the sunniest aspects were a little worked by the sun, but the shade and oblique angles were fine. Def good practice staying up, which is the short summary of skiing down lower on the Italian side.... Videos did not work out so well due to pro skier who wants to drop the line without stopping to get a minor workout! :rolleyes: And yet, Cedric showed excellent mountain sense and waited for me with my stops for photos.
Skinning up to the Tour Rond with Mont Blanc and the Cirque Maudit in the background.
The snow climb up the Tour Rond sported a couple mixed moves.
Due to wallowing in powder at the bergshrund, we roped up to simul climb up to the skiing.
Stylin' the mixed section. Photo: cedccb
When you reach the ridge where the skiing starts (3731m), a nice view of Mont Blanc appears with the Col del a Brenva and the East Face of Mont Maudit.
The highly crevassed Brenva Glacier bordered by the Peuterey Ridge.
Skiing the upper couloir across from the South Face of Mont Blanc and the Brenva Spur.
Guilleme on the upper couloir. Photo: cedccb
The Southwest Couloir of the Tour Rond is basic but fun, unless you hit it in iced up conditions.
Traversing below the summit couloir for the best snow with "ambiance montagne."
The Southwest Couloir of the Tour Rond.
On the Italian side, always ski the shade.
Sections of crusty mank between nice pow.
Skiing cautiously at 2800m.
Ripping pow down to the traverse across the Brenva glacier at 2600m.
Looking up at the active South Face of Mont Blanc from the traverse.
Looking back up the descent line.
Guilleme on the traverse of the Brenva.
We packed the skins and the rope once we hit the shade and the traverse went downhill.
Nice snow on the shady right side of the glacier, except where facets were exposed to Northwest winds or avalanches...
The passage past the serac barrier.
The exit follows the right moraine on the shady side.
The line drops you onto the piste from which you can ski back to the lift or you can traverse the bottom moraine back to the tunnel (1387m), from where a 15 minute returns you to the car.
Looking back up the Brenva to Mont Blanc.
Vertical profile of the descent.
GPS track of the descent.
Last edited by jumpturn on Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:45 am, edited 2 times in total.
You just need some legs, a good partner and some conditions. These lines are basic but fun training on good verticals....got my ticket for 3/25-4/20 to milk my pass....but May is better for the radder lines....
For all the January fun in epic powder, see 2010 Euro Tour.
Last edited by jumpturn on Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Go for April to get in shape while the lifts are running and to ski the Argentière north faces accessing via the Grands Montets, and then you'll be ready for the big lines off the Aiguille de Midi. The returns start melting out after mid-April, and so issues arise....
The Mont Blanc de Tacul lines may be happening in April due to an excellent snow year, and the fact that guys skied the Jager and the Couloir du Diable in January!
