Two more perfect days!

Gwri nears the end of the second hike up to the Col du Berard yesterday!

Two more perfect Backcountry days of fine untracked powder with yesterday a Crochue/Berard Tour from Flegere over to le Buet and then today a Gross Rognon descent in the valley Blanche.

the Crochue/Berard is a classic Chamonix Backcountry tour climbing up from the Floria lift at Flegere to the col du Crochue on the ridge high above. The weather started out cloudy but the forecast promised sun and blue skies later. On breaching the first col, after an hours hike, the valley behind appeared shrouded in white out conditions. From here there are a few options, such as the Glacier du Mort trip, the col du Dard returning over the ridge a little further on and descending down past Lac Blanc back to Flegere or the descent down into the valley below the col du Floria. All are big days out and so for a first outing we stuck to the Col du Berard itinerary. From the first col you have to negotiate a long and tiring traverse which when shrouded in mist can cause a few problems. The snow looked great and then before our eyes the cloud started to clear and we were off. The traverse leads you around the valley side to a second hike of about 30 mins. After a quick stop for lunch and with the skies now totally clear we hiked up to the col du Berard from were the big descent begins.

The snow was perfect and with only a few ski tracks before us there were fresh lines for everyone. The descent goes in 2 parts, a first bowl that leads into a steep and deep face followed by a long second bowl. The Snow was amazing, the steep face deep and untouched, perfect!

There then follows a long commando finish as you fight your way down the undulating valley for a well earned drink at the bar in Le Buet.

Today the weather produced a window of opportunity for a Valley Blanche and so we headed straight up and took on a superb descent of the Gross Rognon variant finding some amazing snow, totaly untracked and the perfect angle, Nice!

We finished the day of with a crevasse rescue training session on the Mer du Glace and then made the long ride back to Chamonix to finish another perfect day.

looks like we're in for some snow over the next couple of days so some tree riding in Courmayeur might be on the cards.

Should set things up nicely for next week too so super stoked!

All is good!

Neil.