Loads more snow overnight, but the wind has dropped and not so gale force, the
avalanche indicator was showing 4 so that stopped any mountain travel. We
decided to do the Trace noir (pro at Le Planay - not sure why it is pro other
than there were loads of lycra clad racers storming up... one girl even lapped
us, getting to the top twice) before we even did once.
We gingerly tackled the road up to Areches even negotiating around a broken down
lorry and attendant breakdown wagon blocking both sides of the road.At Areches
we continued to Le Plannay - I had been quite prepared to stop there and catch
the bus - unfortunately not an option from Beaufort as it only runs twice a day
each way once in the morning up, then down and back up over lunch then finally
down at the close of the day.
At Le Planay we parked in the parking lot beside the road and set off down to
the turn and the start of the trail. Luckily several parties had made an early
start and the route was already bashed into the new snow.
The first section takes you up to the red run that comes down from the Areches
ski area, then over it and more steeper up below the lift across to Areches
area. The winding trail came out onto the red Piapolay route back to the bottom
station.
After a few hundred metres following this piste we went beyond it onto a summer
track that curved around taking a slightly easier line than the red piste,
before climbing steeply once again to some chalets.That was the first “wild”
part of the route away from the pistes.
A brief halt for Lloyd to refuel and we continued slightly away from the red
run, but in powder fields that later would be criss-crossed and shredded with
tracks.
We continued to parallel the red run under the main chair lift and through some
woods before coming out on a flatter area just above another group of chalets -
this was where the blue run back to the bottom cut away from the red.
Closer to the piste but still parallel we climbed up until the piste cut around
above us. We joined it following first on one side then across to the far side
once we had passed under the chair lift once again.
Reaching the bottom of the second chair lift of this area (Combettes) we turned
uphill once again parallel to the Roc Blanc piste.
We ascended to the side of the red run between the two chair lifts.
Until we reached the top station for the main chairlift (having crossed under it
a final time).
Passing the chair lift station we continued climbed up to the right of the Grand
Combe piste, veering up to a little knoll. This was the second “wild” part of
the route, as the trace wandered off onto clear slopes.
The trace zigzagged up the knoll coming out on a ridge in trees at the top.
At this point we had a review of the situation, and I asked everyone how they
felt (especially as Lloyd was slowing down). Everyone wanted to continue up to
the top of the run, so we continued on - it retrospect I should have just
stopped there, as we would; find out later.
The track wound around trees, and bumps on the ridge.
The ridge continued ascending parallel to and above the piste upto another bump.
Until we arrived at the top of the bump which was flat(ish) up to a gap/ breche
where an alternate descent piste ran down. By now I think Lloyd was struggling,
but would not give in, just slowed right down.
Things now got more tricky as we crossed over to an area where the piste powder
hounds had trashed all morning. Breaking trail several times and fighting
through the power debris we finally made it to the top of this trace - a little
hut just off the piste and near the arrival of a poma lift (rising from the
restaurant area).
Into the lea of the hut to change and grab some refreshments. As we admired the
view and talked with a couple of other people who had done the same route the
fog came down and with it a snowstorm.
Time to retreat.. Quickly shedding
the skins and clamping into downhill mode we set off into the “Not quite” flat
light. I opted to raid the powder off the piste, whilst Steph and Lloyd kept to
the piste. We kept up with each other all the way down - me somewhere between
the piste and our ascent trail, and them on the piste, still just visible to
each other in the mist.
At the junction where the blue descent route parted
from the red, I continued through the powder in a line similar to our ascent
dropping down to the bend in the road where we started. The other two followed
the blue down to the bottom station dn walked down to the van.
Back at the van the snow was coming down in heavy globules and it was a rush to
pack up and get down before we needed chains.
