Grand Mont, France

The sky was blue and it promised to be a good day .. after yesterdays excursion we wanted to repeat a route we did last year, and do a small tour from the top of the Areches ski area to the summit of Grand Mont. We would spend some time on the piste then take on the summit, and come back to finish on the piste.

We all (except Sue who stayed back in the apartment) headed off to the Areches lift, by now we were well practised in packing and getting out, so were  soon on the first lift.

After the second lift we came down the piste ...  things were still a little icy so we stayed on the main track - I was fighting again with my boots ... the lean was too aggressive again after yesterdays more positive successes. However we did find a little sport in the trees ..

Down at the bottom of the run, by the chair lift was a large air bag, which the little ones were jumping onto. KT wanted to have a go, but there did not seem to be any way of registering.

As the sun was no getting higher and hotter, it was time to head to the top lift and make a start on the ascent. We worked our way up the second chair and down to the poma.

At the top of the lift, Steph, Chris and I started to put on the skins, whilst M-J, Dom and KT decided what they would do whilst we were away. We arranged to meet up at the refuge for chips in around two hours.

Once everything was ready we headed up the slope behind the Poma on the well used tracks to the col

From here the route went over a small rise on the ridge and then up a shallow runnel. Heading towards the skyline following a few other parties.

The initial section provided Steph with her first introduction to the infamous uphill kick turn. Demonstration followed by practice.

Once on the ridge We could see the next aiming point - last years high point. As we headed up to it we were passed by a sprightly old guy steaming up the track.

By the steeper section at the end gulley, Chris was steaming ahead, whilst Steph and I were puffing like a train. He had obviously been doing some training!

From this col, it looked similar to last year ...  follow the ridge around to the left and the summit.

More gentle slopes with a few steeper sections

As we climbed up the dome of this bump we could see another one beyond, and people making their way up it. Then it dawned on us that we were only on the fore peak.

The route across was the next tricky section ...  a descending traverse on steep icy tracks across a bolder strewn slope. Another first for Steph.

And so to the top .. Stephs first Summit.

From the top the descent was back along almost the same way.  The initial slopes were packed and hard, but easy to turn on.

We could see other parties on the "bad step" across to the fore peak.

The step was not as bad on the way back ...  except for the side stepping up. Steph was a little worried on the traverse, but came over with no problems

From here we cut the corner off, and took to the powder slopes ..  there was a couple on here who were having a few issues in the deep, and once we passed them we shot off down the flatter coombe.

Then we just had the small step down to the col, and back to the pistes. However not before we found a last field of powder in amongst the crust of the previous runs, which gave us a fine finish.

From here we raced down to the refuge ...  at the limit of what Chris believe he was capable of. He brought some new skis this year and it definitely made a big difference to his confidence, and thence to his skiing .. he was always behind me in the position Steph usually takes.

We caught up with each party over chips, and a warm drink, giving us a chance for a breather.

The day finished on a slightly low note, as we came out of the refuge KT had stomach cramps, so she and I snow ploughed gently down to the middle station and then caught the chair down to the car. The rest worked their way down the a different way and finally the black .