Tete de Barasson, Switzerland

Another night and more importantly another great dinner at L'Union, and we got ready for the new day ...  it promised to be a clear bright day, with expectations of sun.

We were headed to Tete de Barasson, a peak at the end of the col Grand St Bernard. this is a popular route with a couple of cols (one each side), and we were heading for the eastern one.

Parking on the top of the tunnel in the car park we had used last year, and got our kit ready for the walk up the track to the hospice.

The track set off from the end of the car-park and followed the road, which is only open in the summer.

At the first bend there was a number of tracks going off to the right - we would explore this tomorrow.

Looking ahead, we could see the valley opening up towards the skyline - we would follow the track and the divert off when the power lines turned left.

Still on the track we came to the first of the ventilation shafts for the tunnel. The track zigzags up this valley.

Approaching the corner where we would leave the track and keep on straight South.

As we leave the main track and followed the direction of the power lines. This gave us the first view of the peak as it showed up on the skyline.

Looking back, we could see over to the hospice up on the road pass .. we had been up there last year.

We kept following the power lines aiming for the triangular peak directly in front.

It was at this point that M-J started to feel her feet ... I was feeling mine as well, but M-J needed to pad up the affected area. While she was doing this Bryon posed for this shot of him modelling the latest fashion in touring "pants" as our US cousins call them.

We passed the western col.. looked like somewhere for another day, as we kept going to the other side of the peak.

The final slopes were steep enough to required us to put a few turns in before we found ourselves on the col.

We paused at the col for a bite and to look around.

However it was not long before Bryon was off up the ridge to the real summit, on foot.


the summit





We all made our way up


And enjoyed the views





After looking around, we dropped back to the skis, and began the descent. Starting off cautiously, to get the feel of the snow.

Before long we were swooping down a runnel.

Then a long schuss over the flat valley bottom



Before dropping back down to the road.

Walking back to the car..  an excellent day