Here is a map of the route (from camptocamp.org) to better illustrate:
We had been waiting for the right time to go up and after some good snow and high pressure it was finally time. The story of the Trappier is quite interesting and was what prevented me from doing it until the time is right. Pierre Trappier was a citizen of Les Houches, the town below the line and was a prominent architect and alpinist. Pierre was credited with putting up the first descent in 1982. Pierre and his wife Marie-Jo, an important environmentalist (against the tunnel traffic) were killed in near the couloir that bore their name in 2008 (actually on the approach ridge I believe). The whole area is widely exposed to wind and has massive exposure. The slide that killed them ran over 1000m.
Anyway, back to today.
The skin track starts at 1800m or so. It continues up the summer tramway and brings you to just under 3100 meters directly below the Aig du gouter. Les Houches is at 900 meters. We skied decent snow to about 1300m or so.
Liz coming up the approach couloirs.
About 2800 meters. Les Houches behind. I can't believe its still open.
Arrival to the couloir. I was sprung. It was gonna be pow.
Tom shredding.
While never that steep, it has the perfect angle to keep you interested. For a long, long time.
Looking up to the Aiguille du Gouter from near the bottom of the line. It's way up there.
We got to the bottom just in time for it get nicely corned.
We eventually had to holster our gear and put our pumas on for the deproach.
