TR: 10 days in the Espace Killy, France

**norris** · 03-11-2008, 08:29 AM

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...

Jim nearing the top, what a perfect day!

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.

Yep, not bad for a first run of the trip

Day2 : P3 Couloir, Mickeys Ears and Telegraph Couloir

Me in P3

Jim and I hiking to Mickeys Ears

Jim on the nasty entrance to Mickeys

Me riding the "piste like" couloir!

nearing the bottom

Jim above the lake

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.

Jim about to make the crux. A fall here would have been terminal. :shock:

Jim through and into the wider part of the couloir

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

Me in the couloir

Me again!

I think Jim liked the soft stuff...

So did I

Pisteurs in all its glory. It starts from the saddle on the left in the sun

Hiking the rocks to Borsat West

What this? powder, sun =

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

Incredible ambiance far away from the pistes

It just went on and on

and on

Jim hiking back out

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:

**norris** · 03-11-2008, 08:30 AM

Day 7

A change of team (me the lone boarder and 2 skiers ;-) ) and a change of conditions...20cms of snow finally

Me near the Col des Ves

Adam showing off to the ladies on the chair!

Dan trying to show off.....

ops:

Adam hiking to the Chardonnet Couloir

seen here above the small group of skiers

It was a bit tracked but still nice and soft

and lower down was very nice

Day 8 - Les Grappillons, Couloir du Table and Borsat West

Adam burning off those pain au chocoat

Dan was happy to see the top, and what a great view of the Grand Casse

Me in Les Grappillons

Looking for the cold smoke

The run was the main bowl in the middle

Adam in the couloir du Table

Me in into the bowl

Adam walking to Borsat West

A cool rock

Ripe Corn on Borsat West

Day 9

Tricky light and not quite enough snow to cover the hard stuff

Adam somewhere above Les Brevieres

Adam heading for the lake

Day 10 - The last day and a strict 1pm finish as we had to get to Geneva for the flight home. Isn't it always the way that its the best day :twisted: But we still managed to fit in a Chardonnet and a Tour du Grande Balme

The early bird catches the worm

Light and fluffy in the Chardonnet Bowl

I love rooster tails

Adam on the Tour du Grande Balme

Final Hike of the week

But it was worth it

Thats all folks

**ulty_guy** · 03-11-2008, 08:35 AM

SOLID!...

**Roo** · 03-11-2008, 08:52 AM

A privilege to see somebody posting these lines from Tignes...

**philippeR** · 03-11-2008, 09:11 AM

Very good work.

And nice slides...

I was there 2 weeks ago, you're a better man than me*. I found the general snow pack rather sketchy.

Edit : * For those unfamiliar with the area, there's some serious hiking involved here...

**norris** · 03-11-2008, 09:15 AM

Phillippe, we were there 23rd - 5th march. snowpack was bomber, infact to bomber! I was cursing not bring my ice axe!

**philippeR** · 03-11-2008, 09:37 AM

We could have met.
Not sketchy as in avalanche (but for some wetslides on south facing slopes), but as in difficult.
Refrozen junk on the morning, slush in the afternoon, rocks everywhere.
Spring skiing in february.
I agree that Tignes has been better than Val. Borsat chair has indeed been rather nice.

**norris** · 03-11-2008, 09:47 AM

Yes, nearly falling of the 3500 traverse on sheet ice was not nice...

It got alot better from 1st march - just wish I there now - should be a great week.

**SonnyBoy** · 03-11-2008, 09:52 AM

Pretty awesome. Looks like a fun trip.

**The Dad** · 03-11-2008, 09:55 AM

Love that place. Well slayed.

**philippeR** · 03-11-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by philippeR

I was there 2 weeks ago, you're a better man than me*

Originally Posted by norris

Yes, nearly falling of the 3500 traverse on sheet ice was not nice...

It got alot better from 1st march - just wish I there now - should be a great week.

QED...
I never skied the back of the Grande Motte actualy.

**irbis** · 03-11-2008, 10:05 AM

Excellent work. Horizon and I plus a group of friends were there doing more or less the same kind of work from the 22nd of Feb until the 1st of March. To hear now that both you and Philippe were there... TR to come, I am still collecting the photos from the ones involved.

**comish** · 03-11-2008, 10:13 AM

That is the best Espace Killy TR I have seen on this board. Very well played.

Way to hike for the goods!!! Thanks for sharing.

**Ripzalot** · 03-11-2008, 10:16 AM

very nice. big pics work for euro TRs!

**RootSkier** · 03-11-2008, 10:31 AM

This TR goes to 11! Fuck yeah!

**norris** · 03-11-2008, 10:32 AM

Gotta hike far to get the goods in the EK....

**norris** · 03-11-2008, 10:33 AM

irbis, I presume snowball from snowheads was on your trip?

**Hicks** · 03-11-2008, 10:35 AM

Solid work and nice pics, Thx for sharing.

**Paskier17** · 03-11-2008, 10:41 AM

Why do I have to live in PA!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

**Thatcher** · 03-11-2008, 11:03 AM

This is really good stuff.

**Alpine Dreams** · 03-11-2008, 11:13 AM

Wow!

**skier666** · 03-11-2008, 11:25 AM

I like these guys....

Nice work

**Rontele** · 03-11-2008, 12:58 PM

bump to the first page

**FFsup** · 03-11-2008, 01:17 PM

Looks like you very much made the most of the place! Good to see.

**KenR** · 03-11-2008, 06:14 PM

Wow, you guys sure nailed it -- both the lines and the photos.

I was in France around that same time, and I did some pretty tours that I liked (including the Aiguille de la Grande Sassiere across the road from there), but not lines like those.

So as not to confuse other visitors:
the Espace Killy is actually a sector of La Grave.
France = Chamonix + La Grave
= La Grave + Chamonix = France

For riding like that, remember:
La Grave