TR: Glacier du Milieu et l'Aiguille d'Argentiere 5.9.10
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 5:04 pm
I really like the Aiguille d'Argentiere. It was pretty much my first tour ever when I first came to Cham to ski in 2006 or 2007 or something. I wasn't able to fully enjoy our excursion because of my shattered hand at the time (still was in a cast) and because I was a fat ass. I also had the most bipolar ski "touring" set up known to man: A pair of Dynastar Pro XXLs with fritschis. Alone this may sound stupid but it gets worse: I was trying to ski these massive skis with some stupid carbon fiber rando-boy dynafits.
Anyway, back to the point. Amazing conditions but fleeting clear weather has made us work around mother nature's schedule. Today (and the previous 10 days) have been rather nice in the morning but cool and snowy in the early-mid afternoon. Today was no exception.
We caught first bin on the last day of the season at Grands Montets and made our way over to the base of the climb. I was excited to be able to get the snow good top to bottom because of a high overcast and rather cool conditions. Waves of snow showers punctuated the day, but we continued because they seemed rather benign.
Here's an older picture I took that ironically is the first image that I found on google image search for 'Milieu Glacier" and was on drewtabke.com
Another reason we went up was to check out the condition of some of the big boys: They're ready. I'm not.
The Argentiere Glacier.
Heading up with Dave and Liz.
The upper headwall is just rad enough (300m ~45) but not too rad as to summon the devil ice from the Glacier Rond.
The ridge to the summit with Liz. I remember being near the brink of death near here my first time. Maybe thats because we started in the valley.
Skiing from the Summit.
The snow was agreeable.
The upper face has a cool exposed feeling.
Exiting the couloir. FREERIDE.
Anyway, back to the point. Amazing conditions but fleeting clear weather has made us work around mother nature's schedule. Today (and the previous 10 days) have been rather nice in the morning but cool and snowy in the early-mid afternoon. Today was no exception.
We caught first bin on the last day of the season at Grands Montets and made our way over to the base of the climb. I was excited to be able to get the snow good top to bottom because of a high overcast and rather cool conditions. Waves of snow showers punctuated the day, but we continued because they seemed rather benign.
Here's an older picture I took that ironically is the first image that I found on google image search for 'Milieu Glacier" and was on drewtabke.com
Another reason we went up was to check out the condition of some of the big boys: They're ready. I'm not.
The Argentiere Glacier.
Heading up with Dave and Liz.
The upper headwall is just rad enough (300m ~45) but not too rad as to summon the devil ice from the Glacier Rond.
The ridge to the summit with Liz. I remember being near the brink of death near here my first time. Maybe thats because we started in the valley.
Skiing from the Summit.
The snow was agreeable.
The upper face has a cool exposed feeling.
Exiting the couloir. FREERIDE.