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ski mountainering France 2017
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It wasn't a great snow year in the northern French Alps, but I got out for some great tours. Some of my favorites were around the Argentiere Glacier and Aiguille du Tour north from the Grands Montets lift near Chamonix Mont Blanc. And the traverse of the Grandes Rousses north from the Alpes d'Huez lifts. And several different days in the western Vanoise, including Col de la Gliere Sud and the Grande Casse and around the Glacier de Gebroulaz. I'll try to give some details for some of them . . . First Glacier de Gebroulaz loop which also includes the Glacier du Borgne. I did it twice this year with different variations from different start points and different snow conditions, after doing it once many years earlier. The scenery is not as dramatic as around Chamonix Mont Blanc, and the route and skiing is not as exciting as the Grandes Rousses traverse. But the access in and out with lifts is short and not difficult, but while you're out there on the glacier you see no human structures. And if I'm with people who want to ski lifts, we can drive there together and I can start up with them and then go off away and tour. |
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Start from the gentle area (N45.2698 E6.6172).(elev 3100m) by the Col de Thorens. Skin up moderately NNE about 500 meters. Just right (SSE 150m) above the Col is the peak of Mont Gebroulaz (N45.27484 E6.62926) with of course a great view, summit can be reached with some easy scrambling -- likely requires a big snowpack to be skiable from its summit. The other peak (E 400m) is the rock of the Aiguille de Polset (N45.27595 E6.63385). Can reach the foot of its short W ridge by keeping skins on and traversing below around N side of Mont Gebroulaz. Climbing to its summit has some difficulty -- likely want crampons. Perhaps easier climbing up its E ridge as a side trip from climbing the (skiable) Dome de Polset. Farther E on the same ridge, but not visible from the Col is the Dome de Polset (N45.27618 E6.63925). Nice ski peak but normally not reachable just by keeping skins on and climbing + traversing on skis from the Col de Gebroulaz. Usually works better to take skins off and first ski down partway on E side of glacier. Likely there are some seriously-steep S-facing downhill ski shots off the Mont Gebroulaz - Aiguille de Polset - Dome de Polset ridge, but those are not part of this loop tour. . . . (to be continued) . . . |
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Gebroulaz glaciers loop . . . (continued) . . . (after Col de Gebroulaz + nearby) . . . Glacier de Gebroulaz The classic downhill run is on the East side of the glacier. To reach the classic East-side run, first traverse E below N side of Mont Gebroulaz. Where to take skins off might depend on how firm and fast is the snow surface. If not sure, what usually works is to keep skins on across up to the base of the W rock ridge (N45.2762 E6.6325) of the Aiguille de Polset, and remove skins there, after enjoying the view (and perhaps trying to climb the Aiguille?) The downhill run starts below the NW side of the Aiguille de Polset. Do not try to enter the top of the slope at its low end (left and NW), because that leads to steep rocks. Instead start higher (right and SE) closer under the steep rock of the Aiguille de Polset. Slope soon steepens to around 30 degrees, facing NE (so snow might be sheltered from the usual west winds), could also traverse high right to reach pure N-facing if thing that has better soon. Ski down to a flat area (N45.2799 E6.6353). Good place to start From the flat area continue N down gentle for a ways along E side of glacier, then moderate steep (stay careful with crevasses). When the big wide glacier gets gentle, aim left-ward across toward Col du Borgne. If cross way left, might catch one more steeper downhill shot along its W side. Gentle (or flat) along the W side of the glacier until see the NW-trending side-valley leading up to the Col du Borgne and reach about (N45.3021 E6.6230).(elev 2780m). Col du Borgne From the West side of the Gebroulaz glacier, put on skins and climb overall NW, at first moderate steep, then long gentle to the steeper S-facing slope directly under the Col du Borgne (N45.30925 E6.6134).(elev 3005m) - (total +240 vertical meters to the Col). Must seriously consider the avalanche danger, especially in the first few sunny days after a fresh snowfall. Going up over this Col could be avoided by continuing NE down the glacier past the Refuge de Saut, and on from there past the E side of the lake to reach the village of Mottaret -- but that's a long gentle/flat slog. Or back to the north there are steeper taller East-facing couloirs which climb the rock ridge and somehow might lead back to Val Thorens -- but have to know what you're doing to try that. Climbing gets steeper (around 35 degrees) close under the Col. Sometimes good snow and good skiers can go on skins all the way to the top, but usually most people stop and take their skis off and boot up to the top -- crampons might be needed (or at least make it feel more secure). Glacier du Borgne Down from the Col du Borgne, there are three main options: 1) If started from Meribel-Mottaret or Brides-les-Bains (or have a ticket that includes riding Meribel-Mottaret lifts) then ski down N - (perhaps more sustained steeper run by first traversing high left W 70+ meters) - down all the way to reach the "Lac" piste (groomed ski run). Continue N down that piste to the bottom of the Plan des Mains chairlift (N45.3410 E6.5890).(elev 2115m). Ride up that, then ski down the pistes all the way to finish at Mottaret. Or if feeling tired, take skis off and hike up to the top station of Plattieres lift and ride on that down to the village of Mottaret. Or if started from Val Thorens, then ski S on piste down to Cote Brune lift. 2) If started from Val Thorens (or Orelle), then traverse high left (West) about 500 meters until under the "return col" (N45.3080 E6.6063).(elev 2980m). Or better ... if have the energy, first ski N down the upper part of Glacier du Borgne - like down to gentle area (N45.3110 E6.6084). then skin back up (+140 vertical meters or more) to under the "return col". SW side of "return col" is normally narrow steep rocky. Usually the narrow steep (at least 35 degrees) upper section must be side-slipped. But in difficult snow, could be down-climbed (perhaps crampons?), or perhaps rappel/abseil. Lower down it gets wider, but still sustained 30-35 degrees. Then gentle W down to reach piste (groomed ski run) - (N45.3056 E6.5890) by the top of the Plein Sud lift. From here follow the instructions in the previous post above under "Access" from Meribel-Mottaret to almost reach the bottom of the Moutieres lift which is just below SW from the single-day parking lot. Recognize your arrival as you see your piste going under the bridge between the lift ticket purchase building (at the bottom of the Cairn + Caron lifts) and the Parking lot. 3) If started from Val Thorens, but want to avoid the more difficult crossing of the "return col" . . . then ski down N all the way to reach the "Lac" piste (groomed ski run) - (N45.3201 E6.5921), perhaps stay high L toward the bottom. Then put skins on and go W up (+270 vertical meters) the piste to Col de la Chambre (N45.3140 E6.5813).(elev 2780m). From here follow the instructions in the previous post above under "Access" from Meribel-Mottaret to almost reach the bottom of the Moutieres lift which is just below SW from the single-day parking lot. Recognize your arrival as you see your piste going under the bridge between the lift ticket purchase building (at the bottom of the Cairn + Caron lifts) and the Parking lot.. |
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some pics would be awesome Ken. Tell us how you FEEL about your tours? :) |
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This is awesome. Thank you for the great post! Next season this will come in super handy. I definitely learned you need ski crampons at a minimum out there, this year I ended up just wearing mountaineering boots and bringing real pons usually. |
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If anyone plans to ski in the French Alps I highly recommend that you spend some time on the skitour.fr website researching objectives having some elementary knowledge of French is helpful, but not completely necessary. The other nice thing is that you can see current conditions as people post their trips daily, here is a trip on Mont Blanc that just got posted with pictures to make anyone jealous |
Rui Ferreira wrote: That's an awesome site with lots of information. I think I can spend an entire day there. That Mont Blanc trip made me nostalgic. Thanks for sharing, Rui! And thank you, Ken, for writing the extensive trip report. |
