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.