Don't post much on here but thought a Euro TR might be in order....
We had every type of snow in the 10 days, managed to Knock of many of the Classic Espace Killy lines. We managed to ride the Grand Balmes before the Freeride comp was
cancelled on the face, not suprised though!
Day 1. Pointe Boussac
After queueing for nearly an hour to get lift tickets (half term) we were off into the Vanoise National Park and a 1.5 hour snowshoe to our first peak.
Jim happy to leave the hordes to fight it out on the slushy pistes...
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Jim nearing the top, what a perfect day!
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3 weeks with no snow and we were more than happy with this ripe corn 8-). We were a bit naughty with it being quite late in the day as you can see the wetslide that I kicked out on my initial ski-cut.
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Yep, not bad for a first run of the trip
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Day2 : P3 Couloir, Mickeys Ears and Telegraph Couloir
Me in P3
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Jim and I hiking to Mickeys Ears
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Jim on the nasty entrance to Mickeys
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Me riding the "piste like" couloir!
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nearing the bottom
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Jim above the lake
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Day 3. Couloir de Grande Balme
The classic Tignes line. In full view of the resort. 45 degrees + in a couple of places and a crux turn around a dog leg above a rather large cliff! starts just to the left of the snow in the sun.
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Jim about to make the crux. A fall here would have been terminal. :shock:
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Jim through and into the wider part of the couloir
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It was a fantastic line and felt so wild -kind of wierd as you feel like everyones looking at you from the resort below!
Day 4: 5-10 cms of snow finally!!! conditions compared to the day before were somewhat softer on the legs! Pisteurs Couloir, rectaline, Borsat West -
Jim hiking through the clouds to the Pisteurs Couloir
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Me in the couloir
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Me again!
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I think Jim liked the soft stuff...
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So did I
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Pisteurs in all its glory. It starts from the saddle on the left in the sun
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Hiking the rocks to Borsat West
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What this? powder, sun = :D
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Day 5 : Couloir 3500, This is a 1000m shot off the back of the grand Motte. The classic entrance was really rocky so we traversed in slightly lower. This involved a rope and a heelside above a 25 metre cliff on rock hard snow. Not something I ever want to do again :twisted:
Cedric in the top of the couloir
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Incredible ambiance far away from the pistes
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It just went on and on
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and on
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Jim hiking back out
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Day 6
I only took 1 photo, what with the crappy snow, flat light and tired legs - still managed to knock off les tufs! But check out how we needed snow :shock:
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