Grand Mont, France

We had told Bryon that today he would need his skins ...  a plan was hatched and He, Chris, M-J, Dom, and I would go straight up to the top of the Areche ski area and then head off to the Grand Mont ... I think this must be my favorite tour in the area. KT volunteered to stay with Toby and we would all meet up after lunch when we returned.

Ready for the depart.. Toby already chasing KT down the mountain.

The first step up tot he col gives an excellent view of the steep side of the route .. and the eventual summit.

However the route goes on the other side of the ridge and is very calm and gentle, as it leads up to a col that looks south over the trois vallee.

From the col, turn right, and follow the ridge ...  there was a nasty step in the way, but after so sweaty moments we were all past it.

The top was very popular, and belied the lack of company on the ascent.

Looking at the watch it was soon time to turn around ...  first the traverse around the pre-summit - always fun and this year contained the usual number of exposed rocks.

Before swooping down the linked cwms, and along the long run behind the ridge.

 last look back before we hit the piste ... the sun shining just over the initial ridge ..

Then speed skiing down to the alpage to meet the other two ... who had been trying to keep a table for us in the crowded hut ..  unfortunately they were being ignored, as were we when we arrived, so time to depart.

We took the easy option - down the "cold" road, and up to the middle station, then the red run to Le Plannay ... Toby was keen to show he no longer needed to sideslip any of this and skied the whole thing.
At the bottom we followed the, increasingly bare, route back to the cars.
A fitting end to another great week in Beaufort. Tomorrow begins the long journey home.

The return was uneventful, setting off early to drop Steph in Albertville to meet up with friends for a second week, we rode the front of the bow wave. Arriving at Calais where we hit the biggest queue - getting through immigration. finally arriving home at 10pm

Trip Track

Col du Pre, France

Today we would go back to the col du Pre where we had recce'd earlier this year in Spring. Chris and Steph joined me, whilst Toby, Bryon, M-J and Dom headed for Areche, and a day chasing each other on the mountain runs.

We drove up the road in chilly shadows, and found the last parking slot at the point where the road became impassable. There were a large number of vehicles here .. presumably all partaking of new year celebrations in the various chalets up the pass.

Setting off in the shadows .. looking into the pass, and also across to where the sun was just peaking over onto the Areches ski area.

We did not follow the route from last year, but kept into the base of the valley running down. there were lots of snowshoe tracks going upa dn plenty of skis coming down all which reduced the avalanche risk.

Nearing the top the turns got tighter, and the snow softer as the sun came up, but we still kept upa good rhythm.

The top ..  a signpost, some picnic benches and a presentation board. we could also see the end of the track we followed last year, where it came out of the woods.

After pausing for our breath and taking the skins off we dropped back to a little chalet, just below the top (in the sun and with good views down the valley) for a bite to eat.

The descent was simply straight down the river bed ...  the top section was a little heavy after hte suns melt of the last few days, but as we got lower we found a long section that had always been in shade, and this gave some good powder.

Back along the track to the van and much entertainment looking at the newcomers fighting for parking spaces, and effectively moving on only a single track road

Trip Track