 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What I'm really asking is... Does anyone fancy having a play there. Skin up at dawn (possibly), climb the bottom section to check it out, then see what we think. 45 - 50 degree gullies can be climbed with one axe pretty safely unless they are icy.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Avalanche Poodle, have skied them all a few times. Lookers right is definitely the steepest... Not much to add as conditions can make them all feel easier or harder - have made turns from the top of the steep one and equally have downclimbed the first 30m due to rocks/ice...
One word of caution, if you are going up from the bottom then be there early as most people do them as a loop off the lifts by skinning up the back on the Chaviere glacier - the last thing you want is people dropping in on you while you are boot-packing...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Cheers, good thought. If I do that I'll aim to get there before the lifts open. Otherwise get the lift and skin. Depends if I can get anyone to go with really. If I skin up I'll take a 60m thin rope, always handy in case the top section is dodgy and the block at the top looks good to protect the first 30m if necessary.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Avalanche Poodle, looks interesting I could be tempted to give this a go at the EOSB, if the conditions are good etc etc.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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AB Ski, See what conditions are like that week. There are often signs of slides at the base below the rocks so timing would be important to avoid ice at the tops and avi risk at the bottom.
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A huge effort to climb up them I'd have thought when it is such an easy access from the top of the lift and glacier from the back. Not as far or steep as the Col Gebroulaz, which isn't that much of a skin/climb itself. I've not skied the 3 Valleys since I've skied things like the St Peres couloirs, but the guide book says the Grand Couloir (a bit further to skiers right), which is also longer, is a steady 40º all the way, so perhaps the first one to do. And then, of course, further round still, and longer and easier, there is the grand Face Ouest which I think has been done on the EOSB before and is one of the best off piste descents in the region.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowball, Thanks for the info. I think the skin up from the rear is definitely the best option. Plus starting from the left and the easier ground, depends on how much stuff I get done during the season. I'm only just getting into the steeper ground on skis, but have done a lot of winter climbing in the past. If there is an EOSB gang going up the main route I'll be happy to join them 
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If you don't have the 3 Vallleys off piste book I can scan and send the description of the routes and access. Mind you, it might be worth getting the book if you don't have it (you should be able to get it in the village, I think) plus the 1:25,000 map of course.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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snowball, Cheers, I've managed to find some notes for access to the three Peres descents but the more info I have the better, it would probably be worth my while getting the book as you say, as long as the EOSB continues to be held at VT  If I PM you my email addy could you send them digitally?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Sure - mind you, there are so many other routes....
However, I just Googled the book and I think it may be out of print. It was published by Vamos and was in dual language French/English.
Edit: on looking further the 3 Tarrentaise books seem to have been reprinted as one volume. I can't believe, however, that it can be pocket size like the old ones. Here it is
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You know it makes sense.
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snowball, that is a different book - all touring (albeit some starting from lifts), as opposed to the separate off piste guides for EK & 3V etc. Haven't seen the Vamos guides in the shops for a while (though haven't looked that hard), think you can still get the Clés des 3 vallées though, although from memory the descriptions for access to the St Peres options were better in Vamos...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Will have a check in the next few days but pretty sure the St Peres aren't in the Vamos touring book - Peclet West face and Gebroulaz are in there I think though...
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Poster: A snowHead
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The Peres look pretty easy to get to on the map. As long as there are no nasty crevasses at behind the ridge line where you skin up
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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offpisteskiing, oh that's a pity. Perhaps he should look for second hand copies of the old books.
In the 3 Vallees book you get successively on that climb up:
(4a) Saints Peres branche de droite;
(4b) Branche de gauche;
(4c) Couloir de gauche;
(5) Roc des Saints Peres.
Then:
(5a) Grand Couloir; (not the Courchevel one)
(5b) Triangle;
(5c)Petite Face Nord
(6) Face Ouest
Then the various descents from the Col de Gebroulaz, to Meribel, Prolognan etc
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Those are all on my to-do list, and I've looked at them a few times at the end of season when doing other routes around there. I'll be in Meribel again for the season (delayed start this year) so know plenty of people who are up for adventures, but always up for discussing conditions, maybe have an extra person join a group, or have a couple of seperate groups that do it at the same time and keeping an eye on each other/taking photos from distance etc. In other words please get in touch nearer the time and see what we can work out...
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Sounds like a plan. I'm sure as the EOSB looms closer a thread could be started for anyone looking to do some touring / ski mountaineering routes. Lets just hope I get some more experience of jump turns by then 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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My brother and his girlfriend are in the photos in the Raffort route on that page. We've all done plenty of of touring and off-piste teaching around the area, but every time I tick off a new route, I normally see at least 3 more. I had great plans for the end of last winter with all the good snow but then it all started falling off the mountains and after watching some avalanches that lasted well over 5 minutes we had to scale everything back.
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Looking at those videos makes me think Chapeau to you lot. There's no way I would summon the courage to launch myself down there. I imagine a trip or fall would be an interesting experience.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Bump!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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ScarpaTheAvalanchePoodle, are crampons and axes required for this? I dont mind doing a bit of skinning to find some fresh but I'm no mountaineer.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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hmmm looks interesting, may well be up for it. I'd rather climb it first - if I can climb it, I can ski it for sure, as I'm a cr*p climber.
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The touring is easy from the back of the ridge. I have 3 axes with me so there are a couple of spares in case there is a need for scrambling.
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You know it makes sense.
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I await the report back with interest.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I'm still up for this. See what conditions are like at the time but think I'd favour skinning up the glacier as the method of access.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well, it's still on for next year. Looks as if at least three skiers did the right hand descent mid week, on zooming in the tracks look pretty good.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Both branches in that photo got skied last week (several times)..
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FAQ
I'm just starting out on proper graded descents. I can hold an axe and pole in one hand though in case of the need for emergency braking, the BD flick-lock have a thin grip section below the handle that lends itself to that. A few years ago I wouldn't have entertained that route, but I seem to really enjoy the technical aspect of picking a line down, probably even more than climbing up things, so I've just found that the steepness has gradually increased alongside my experience. I've been looking at that line for years and now the compulsion to do it has just become too strong. If it looks like it's beyond me though, I'll go back the way I came. I'm too old for stupidity 
