TR: Face Nord Col du Plan, VRAI CHAMONIX FREERIDEURS!
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 4:58 pm
Lately I've seen a lot of ski tracks in stupid-ass places.
I kept saying to myself that I wasn't going to be part of the foolishness until our Multi-laterial (France, USA, Canada, Britain) strike-force decided on North Face of the Col du Plan. The Col du Plan is one of the most skiable lines on the north face (meaning minimal suffering and terror on ice).
All the lines one the North face basically involve 1200 meters of unknown gnar and usually an abseil. It scares me to drop into big faces here that are completely unknown 15 minutes after sipping espresso in my chalet.
Apparently it doesn't scare anyone else here.
Anyway, the line is literally 10 minutes from the top of the Aig du Midi and accessed from the Arete.
We were concerned about the new wind the last few hours. An avalanche here would shit on your parade for sure.
Luckily, two snowboarders (or skiers maybe) had skied the upper part yesterday.
Then it got really really good but really really exposed.
Looking back at the Midi.
Down a bit more, approaching the abseil (60m hang skiers right as much as possible)
Starting the abseil. Unfortunately one of our ropes was only a 50m, and if you ab straight falline you need at least a 70m. Tom seemed to enjoy dangling in space as Ross was able lower him on his 30m cord.
Looking up at what we skied. You can see the exciting straightline across black ice. I nearly dropped my marbles here.
After the abseil, its a nice couloir for ~200. By nice I mean shitty.
Finally we reached the apron where it was Freeride time.
