A tradition has transpired over the last few visits and today would continue that ... We set off for a mass ascent of Grand Mont.. A trip up the chairs and then the two drags to the top of the Areches ski area. I noticed on the way up that the return to the top chair station was closed and we would have to make a slight uphill step on the return to avoid taking another drag ride and putting pressure on the time available on the lift passes.
Top of the ski area and skins on ... We headed up to the col. On the way up Katie was having trouble slipping, and knowing we would be on harder snow higher up, she put on some ski crampons ... problem resolved ... she was much more comfortable, even taking the turns in her stride.
Up on the boulder plateau we could see parties all over the hill ... we just took a middle way and worked up towards the ridge line ahead,
For a change this time we headed up what we would normally use as the descent line ... today it was the main highway. It got a little steep and the snow hard packed ... time for Dom to struggle with slippage, but she managed without putting on the crampons.
From the top of this gully we could see over to the main top ... just the "bad step" in the way.
The step was not too bad ... just a slight turn around a rock in a narrow section and some downhill skinning.
Then a short section up to the top.
The summit ... hard packed snow and icy sections ... with a biting wind.
We posed for a number of photos, Dom took a 360 video and also photos from the wireless masts. Then a bite to eat before preparing for the descent.
With the wind and hard snow, I gave a warning to the girls that this would not be a good place to loose a ski, and to hold on to the leashes until their feet were safely locked in.
Not two minutes later in a party on the other side of the path dropped a ski and whoosh it was over the edge and into the void - gone forever.
Everyone was shocked, and Katie moved down to a flatter area to ensure there was no mistake.
Then we were off ... down to the "bad step" ... here we took two lines .. with some of us walking around, and others sliding across.
Now for the really fun bit .... the couloir with the light powder on a heavy base.
then the schuss through the boulder plateau.
Before long we were back at the col, preparing for the traverse to the piste.
Down the piste as we did on the first day, except as we go to the top of the lower drag lift we took a turn up the connection path to the top drag ... here going the wrong way up a one way street, I stuck to the side and was soon riding the stones, then in a heap trying to avoid a large party coming down.
The upper chair section was worse than last time, the steep section was full of loose stones, scratching the ski bases.
Then the chair ride to the bottom.... and back to the chalet for a up of tea.
