Amazing final run! BC Splitboard touring week.

After a great couple of days touring around the Grand St Bernard area we heaeded back to Chamonix and to make plans for the last 2 days of the winter season.

With once again mixed/bad forecast for Thursday and a possible good forecast on Friday I made the gamble to tour to a hut through the bad weather with the hope of blue skies and more fresh snow on the final day.

As we drove back from the Grd St Bernard and passed over the Col du Forclaz we gazed up at the immaculate looking Glacier des Grandes, the scene of my most recent powder riding activity.

The guys were psyched to get up there and so the plans were set in motion and the big tour was on!

Thursday morning dawned not to bad early on and we got some fresh lines down off the Lognan's Glacier off the top of the Grands Montets.

We changed over to touring mode on the Argentiere Glacier and headed across the flats to the steep first climb of the Col du Chardonnet, the first climb en route to our destination, the 'Trient refuge'.

Cramponing up the initial slopes towards the col du Chardonnet!

For the initial slopes we changed to Crampons and worked our way up towards the easier angled Glacier above as the weather started to take a turn for the worse!

Soon we were immersed in zero visability with thick cloud and snowfall. No wind as yet though so not too unpleasant and we continued up, now back on split boards, towards the hidden col above.

The Col du Chardonnet is always a lot further than you think and with Zero Vis the hike seemed to go on for ever. Eventually the rocks either side of the Col appeared through the mists and we changed to ctampons once again for the steep abseil down the other side.

Pete, descending from the Col du Chardonnet towards the Saleina.

The point of total commitment was now passed and as we stood below the col at the top of the Saleina Glacier the cloud broke for an instant, enough time for us to watch a massive Serrac fall trigger a huge powder avalanche down the North face of the Aiguille d' Argentiere, only a few hundred meters or so away to our right.

We did quite a lot of this!

I took a quick compass bearing and we ski'ed off traversing around the top of the Saleina heading for our next objective the Fenetre de Saleina which gives access to the Final leg of the tour, the Trient Plateau.

Another long voyage through the thick cloud which had returned and we arrived at the steep ascent towards the Fenetre.

Andy and Darren on the upper slopes of the Fenetre de Saleina.

We had now been on the move for some 8 hours in zero vis and cold temps. No wind still, made things not too unpleasant but the long day was starting to take its toll on a few members of the team (if not all!) and some tired faces appeared at the top of the Fenetre de Saleina after the steep climb from below.

The Trient Plateau is a huge flat featureless Glacial plateau, very beautiful in good weather but a navigational nightmare in zero vis. After navigating across this plateau numerous times (both summer and winter) over the years, I finally succumbed to modern technology and stuck the hut co-ordinates into my GPS which I now pulled from my bag. With an accuracy of 5 meters and the hut indicated at 2.6km away we now headed across the Plateau on the last leg of the journey.

Fortunately for the tired legs in the team most of this final mission was flat or even slightly down hill and so some of the team had to quickly learn the art of Snowploughing on skis through the now quite deep fresh powder.

After 9 hours on the move! the hut was finally ours and the long day was over.

Credit to the guys, spirits remained high all day and we settled in for some good food and a fun (but short) evening in the refuge.

As we went to bed that night we all must have thought the same thoughts about the next day, hoping that the forecast for clear skies would come true!

Early morning sunlight hits the Aiguille du Tour, it's going to be a good day!

Fantastic, then, to wake early in the morning to Blue skies and crisp deep powder covering everything and as we ate an early breakfast everyone was buzzing about the day to come!

The Trient hut is on the rocks behind as we get ready for the final hike.

A short ride down onto the Trient Plateau from the hut, a quick change to skinning mode and I started breaking trail through the deep fresh up towards the Aiguille du Tour.

Amazing!

One of those beautiful mornings in the mountains, quiet, clear, crisp, amazing views 360 and fresh powder underfoot.

2000m of fresh snow below! Dropping!!

After a couple of hours breaking trail we were at the top with 2000m of untracked powder beneath our feet!

We changed to riding mode for the last time and prepared for the last run of the season (here in Chamonix anyway).

The run starts up above the col behind, here we're charging the upper snow fields.

The first turns were amazing and told us of things to come!

Andy Mantle.

We shot through from the Trient Glacier out onto the top of Glacier des Grandes and just kept on riding!

Pete.

And riding!

Lee.

And Riding!!

Gwri.

Darren.

Andy Cook.

And then rode some more!!

Andy M again!

This has got to be one of the biggest and best descents in the Mont Blanc Massif and the snow was just pefect from top to bottom!

The exit couloirs are behind (and the main descent above left), even they were full of good deep powder!

Even the exit couloirs were in good condition!

Eventually the riding came to a satisfactory ending and after an easy hike out to the Col du Forclaz my BC Splitboard touring week was over along with my Winter season in Chamonix!

What a fantastic week and a great last run to finish the season with!

As a guide, exploring new areas (such as the Grd St Bernard tour) and taking on new challenges (guiding 6 guys for 9 hours through the mountains in a storm) is all part of the of the job, but when it all comes together with perfection, as it did this week there really is no finer Metier!

I now have a couple of days off before I try to throw together my next trip to Greenland!

Another adventure into the unknown, a journey into an amazing wilderness of high peaks and polar ice, 24 hour sunlight and a solitude that is hard to find anywhere else on the planet!

So much to do before I head off!

With such a busy season, it's been hard to even think 2 days ahead never mind planning for Greenland which always seemed to far off and suddenly departure is right around the corner!

Right better think about packing!

I can think about packing whilst riding my bike though right?

Why do things now when you can do everything last minute!!

Beautiful day and my bike is calling!

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.

Splitboard touring! End of winter bonus freshies!!

Split board touring week this week and although for most the winter is now well and truly over, with most resorts now shut (including everything in Chamonix except the Grand Montets) and the temperatures hitting the mid 20's, for those in the know and with the means and dedication the late winter freshies await!

Monday we did a splitboard introduction tour, the group are fit, keen and experienced regulars and so we headed up high straight away and had perfect spring conditions up and down the Glacier rouge du Dolent way up the Argentiere basin.

With a mixed forecast for Tuesday but a good one for Wednesday we then headed up to the Col du Grande St Bernard for a 2 day outing.

We hiked up to the refuge, the hospice du Grd St Bernard (which happens to be a Monastry that dates way back into the 18th century, initially a refuge for stricken travellers trying to get across the major trade route that the col used to be right up until the St Bernard tunnel was built in the mid 1900's!).

The weather started out not so bad but came in rapidly as we left the trail to the refuge to hike up the Combe de Barasson which we then descended in total zero vis.

Once back on the trail we reached the Refuge in the early afternoon and settled in for a relaxing evening whilst the storm raged outside.

An early start and the weather still appeared to be bad as we ate Breakfast but a sudden clearing revealed that the cloud was only socked in on the actual Col (which is very common here) and the peaks above were in glorious sunshine.

Moody skies and an early morning start from the refuge (back right).

We headed out the door and began to traverse around the frozen lake into Italy.

Andy Cook trying our new idea, a sport sliding on two planks! We sacked it off, it'll never catch on.

We kept the splitboards split with out the skins on for the first traverse around the lake, a weird idea that could be a strange sport in its own right, one long sliding thing on each foot with a pole in each hand. In the end we decided it wasn't that much fun and would never catch on.

We headed off towards the Fenetre d' en haut following initially the road across the col and down onto the Italian side of the mountain.

Leaving the road for the peaks above!

After riding through a tunnel to the first switch back we left the road and headed up into the peaks above.

Perfect conditions for hiking and riding!

Touring up towards the col d en haut.

The storm had left a beautiful fresh coat on everything and the mountains were in perfect condition for hiking and riding.

Tricky crampon work to access the final couloir.

The final couloir, starting to get a bit steep!

And the exit is a bit steeper still!

On reaching the col above we descended and traversed around behind the point de Drone and climbed a steep couloir with Crampons to access the Combe de Drone on the other side which with a new coat of fresh snow was now in perfect condition.

Whilst every one else bakes in the sun on the Grande Montets, Andy C gets some late winter fresh!

And so does Pete!

And Lee charges the upper bowl!

Gwri is back out again and getting deep in in as usual!

Andy Mantle charges the lower slopes.

With 2 new knee caps Darren (aka Piglet?) loves the smooth fresh!


Loads of room and fresh turns for all!

It was a nice surprise to find some proper deep fresh powder on the upper slopes and in the areas sheltered from the cold North wind.

A great late winter bonus for sure and the ride was long and in perfect condition!

The circular tour from the refuge took us up and around the Pointe du Drone with the descent taking us straight back down to the Van parked down at Bourg St Bernard to finish a perfect couple of day out on the mountain.

Mixed weather tomorrow but better on Friday so we're looking to head up through the Col du Chardonnay and over to the Trient hut tomorrow and from there hopefully a perfectly fresh descent of Glacier des Grandes on Friday!

I'll let you know how we progress!

All is good!

Neil.

More great spring riding!

Here in the Valley the temps are hitting the low 20's and that summer feeling has hit Chamonix!

Up the mountain the spring slush is in full effect for the jibbers and out of bounds the good cold snow is scarce and hard to find.

It just so happens however that we've manged to find it once again this week on my last BC Intro of the season so here's how its panned out!

Monday we rode fresh snow on the top tickets at the Grands Montets, no queues and fresh lines all day with 6 laps of deep fresh (see previous post).

Tuesday we headed out touring, keeping high for the good snow, heading up the Argentiere glacier and turning left to hike up the Amethyste Glacier and the Col du Tour Noire.

Heading up towards the Amethyste Glacier.

The fast bunch heading for the top!

A big day on snowshoes for sure, half the team made the top, with UK Freeride super star Will Hughes who had joined us for the day, the others cut out just short of the top with a traverse over to join the big descent back into the valley.

Will Hughes charges the Amethyste!

Closely followed by Richie.

Phillipe in the mix.

A big first tour for sure and a good effort all round!

Wednesday we headed over to Courmayeur, my 85th and 86th goes through the tunnel this season. I'd not been over there for a week or so and so it was bit of a shock to see how much snow has disappeared in just a week!

We did a Val Veni run off the Arp, it was good to about half way down and then tricky in the couloir due to avalanche debris. The lower couloir was good down to the river crossing but I don't see the snow bridge across the river lasting much longer and the river is in full flow!

Today, Thursday, we did a Heli drop up on the Trient Plateau (same as we did last Friday).

The pilot let me fly us up there! yeah right!!

Hiking up towards the peak on the right!

We made good time today with John pulling on the front!

I kind of expected a freeze thaw or wind affected descent and so was super surprised to find good cold winter freshies all the way down to just above the exit couloir!

Richie jibbing it up on the Grands!

David getting fresh lines!

Tim on the middle part of the descent, great snow!

John making fresh lines!

Chris visits winter wonderland in mid April!

Total end of season bonus!!

compulsory commando finish!

A massive wet snow slide (must have been on Sunday with all the rain) had slid into the lower Couloir which made the exit a bit tricky and then we opted for the walk out on the summer trail to the Col du Forclaz, which worked out pretty easy and so no real commando finish and a Bar at the end of the hike out!

Not so bad!!

So far a pretty good week then.

Heading into the Valley Blanche tomorrow to see what's happening up there. Will probably do a Grand Envers and exit by the Requin couloir. I've not ridden this side of the VB this season so it'll be a bit of an explore for me and it'll be quite interesting to see how things have changed.

All is good! but very hot!! in Chamonix!

Neil.

Heli Daze and deep fresh!

Glacier des Grandes, Carl lays it out!

Just started my last BC Intro of the winter with another special Grands Montets 'Top Tickets' day of fresh snow and no queues.

We did 6 laps off the top, mostly down the Face right and left of the Rognon, the last run was in glorious sunshine and fully charged!

Last weeks BC Splitboard Intro week was a real bonus week as we pretty much rode fresh lines all week in perfect snow (see previous blogs).

After a great tour over the col des Autannes on Thursday we looked up at Glacier des Grandes from the valley and picked it out for the next days mission. On return to Chamonix I quickly booked the Heli for a drop on the Trient Plateau at 9am as the weather once again came in to deposit fresh snow for us to ride in the morning.

UK Freerider, Will Hughes had arrived to stay so I quickly drafted him as tail guide for the day, (didn't take much convincing I have to say!)

The next morning dawned Bright and clear and at 9am we were flying up the Trient Valley on our way up into the mountains once again.

The team setting out for the hike!

Half way up to Aiguille du Tour.

There were a few touring parties a head of us so the trail up towards the Aiguille du Tour through the deep fresh snow was super easy and took about an hour on the splitboards.

The hike is almost over!

A quick stop for lunch and to change into riding mode and the descent began.

On arriving at the top of Glacier des Grandes I was pleasantly surprised to see that all the skiers had traversed over to the Glacier de Bron and so our objective was completely untracked.

The ride begins!

And keeps on going!

I dropped in wondering why the skiers had avoided this massive field of powder and so was half expecting it to be wind affected, but it was perfect and just seemed to get better every turn, so, after checking that the guys behind had started to follow, I just kept going and going!

And going!!

On and on!

The ride continues!

I love riding these powder descents in huge long pitches and Glacier des grandes is one of the biggest and longest descents in the Massif. At about half way, just before it steepens I pulled up and got some shots of the guys coming down.

and on and on some more!

And on some more!

After a re group we rode the second half in one massive pitch of amazing untracked powder with everyone getting amazing turns down the steeps.

Our tracks run right down the middle from left to right!

A great finish to a fantastic week!

Heading up the Argentiere Glacier tomorrow for a tour up the Amethyste Glacier again. It should be good and fresh after this latest storm so should be great, I'll let you know!

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.