Col des Courtes 2010-04-20
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:07 pm
Skinned up the Argentiere Glacier with Martin and skied the Col des Courtes in a storm. We had a little trouble with the first bergshrund crossing and had to try again 50m to the right. The weather deteriorated once we got over the bergshrund and it began snowing. We continued up pretty close to the top, but chose not to navigate the rock band in poor visibility. We built major ledges on some 50º terrain, geared up and waited for a visibility window. The line was purging snow and filling in part of my ledge, so constant maintenance was required. The purging snow was really cool on the glacier ice to our left!
After a Red Bull and some waiting while we got enough visibility to ski. The powder was awesome, and continued down to the base of the cone before turning into crust and refreeze. The return was pretty low vis, but opened up at the ice fall. Martin insisted on skiing to town so we went down the hotel face in soft snow and skied the piste in Spring conditions.
The Col des Droites is on the right.
The NNE Face of the Courtes was looking pretty good but was likely to fog in heavier.
The Aiguile qui Remue was looking better, and skied the following day by the Tahoe Dave and his pro skier posse.
The Col des Courtes was looking nice but presented a vertical rock band to navigate.
A French guy from Annecy motored up the Col des Cristaux and soloed it before the weather closed in.
Martin was psyched for some higher angle skiiing after several days on 45º.
The clouds were coming in, but we were largely protected by the mountain range from the incoming weather.
Martin before failing on the first begshrund crossing.
Martin approaches the second bergshrund as the snow falls.
Our high point by the upper rocks is visible.
Martin styling on his ledge.
JT after successfully hucking the bottom bergshrund.
Martin rips the cone.
After a Red Bull and some waiting while we got enough visibility to ski. The powder was awesome, and continued down to the base of the cone before turning into crust and refreeze. The return was pretty low vis, but opened up at the ice fall. Martin insisted on skiing to town so we went down the hotel face in soft snow and skied the piste in Spring conditions.
The Col des Droites is on the right.
The NNE Face of the Courtes was looking pretty good but was likely to fog in heavier.
The Aiguile qui Remue was looking better, and skied the following day by the Tahoe Dave and his pro skier posse.
The Col des Courtes was looking nice but presented a vertical rock band to navigate.
A French guy from Annecy motored up the Col des Cristaux and soloed it before the weather closed in.
Martin was psyched for some higher angle skiiing after several days on 45º.
The clouds were coming in, but we were largely protected by the mountain range from the incoming weather.
Martin before failing on the first begshrund crossing.
Martin approaches the second bergshrund as the snow falls.
Our high point by the upper rocks is visible.
Martin styling on his ledge.
JT after successfully hucking the bottom bergshrund.
Martin rips the cone.