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TR: Skimo traverse of the Haute Maurienne

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I thought I’d share this T.R. of a superb ski-mountaineering week, completing the traverse of the Haute Maurienne via the Refuge du Carro, Refuge des Evettes and the Refuge d'Averole.
What a hidden gem of an area this is, just a few km. over the Col de l'Iseran from Val d'Isére.


This was an Eagles ski club tour, led by mountain guide and pro. photographer Andy Teasdale http://www.andyteasdaleguiding.com/ - this is one of his shots from the tour…
Ian shredding >>>


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 26-04-16 2:56; edited 1 time in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Day 1 started from the car park in Bonneval sur Arc (1,820) in light drizzle for the skin up to the first hut: the Refuge du Carro (2,759m - just 4km due East of the top drag on the Pisailles Glacier in the Le Fornet ski sector of Val), where we were based for the first 2 nights.

This (as with the other 2 huts on the traverse) was a great place with superb food: think 5 course supper followed by complimentary limonata/genepi served up by a real character of a guardian!
Day 2 dawned clear and cold with a light dusting of fresh snow for our first objective which was the Levanna Occidental (3,593), via the Col des Pariotes.

The last scrambling section to the summit cross was made on crampons...

…before a superb descent on the previous day’s fresh snow

The ski down was so good that we skinned up to a second col for more of the same... this actually turned out to be not such a good idea as the cloud rolled in, making nav. back to the hut a slight issue.
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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?
Day 3 was an early Alpine start for the traverse to the Refuge des Evettes (2,590) via the Col des Pariotes (3,034),

Col de Trièves (3,070)

and Col du Grand Méan(3,214m):

a big day skinning in high Alpine glaciated terrain.
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Great
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks for sharing. Excellent.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
No rest for the wicked with a 4am. alarm call on Day 4

for the highlight of the trip: the traverse to the Refuge d'Averole (2,210) via L'Albaron (3,637)

with about 3/4km scramble along a precipitous knife-edge ridge from the Selle d'Albaron (3,474) to the summit. (no photographs here, as I was too gripped to dare to look through the viewfinder!)

A roped “lower” by our guide Andy,

to the Glacier du Grand Fond was followed by a superb 1,500m ski descent to the Averole on virtually every type of snow condition you could ever meet.
Much beer and galettes were consumed that afternoon, followed by a deep sleep then another superb 5 course meal.


Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 27-04-16 23:15; edited 1 time in total
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Day 5 started with a 5:30 breakfast then a skin back up yesterday's route on tricky frozen crust, which at one point steepened too much to skin and required us to resort to booting up to some more mellow terrain.

The Pointe des Audras (3,244) was achieved on crampons,

followed by another superb descent on spring snow and more beer and galettes.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Fantastic. When did you go?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Yet another 5am breakfast for the final day's objective, the Ouille d'Arbéron (3,554)

about 1,500m of ascent with the cloud filling the valley below and another scramble to the summit on crampons.

This was followed by a descent initially on sublime fresh powder which eventually turned to some of the most unpleasant wet sugar you can imagine, so great care was required to get down with legs/knees intact.
A quick bowl of soup at the Albaron, then grabbed the rest of our kit and skid out of the valley on rapidly diminishing snow,

and hiked the final bit down to a car park at 1,800m for a lift back to Bessans.
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@Chamcham asked,
Quote:

Fantastic. When did you go?

This was all last week (16-23 April) - just got back yesterday... it's still winter in them there hills snowHead
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
This was the view of a dusting of fresh snow at Bessans (1750m) on Sunday when I left,

with snow flurries all the way down to Modane at 1,000m and more wintry weather forecast this week.

AFAIK: The lifts are still spinning at Bonneval sur Arc until next weekend.
http://en.haute-maurienne-vanoise.com/webcams/bonneval-sur-arc
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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.
Fabulous, thanks for posting.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@geoffers, Unfortunately, I've packed away my ski kit (and credit card) until next winter. Great posts, thanks.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Good work!

I'm very jealous as this is near the top of my hit list.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Looks fantastic - thanks for posting
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The complete set of my (low resolution) photos should be visible here, if you want more.... Cool
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kcxatlnitg8v6l5/AACBUGnE6jg2Oz3oWY9q9TYta?dl=0
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
What a lot of gorgeous places there are to go, out there. For those with the legs...... snowHead
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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?
Thanks geoffers - great stuff. Must add to our ski touring 'to do' list Smile.
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Lovely photos - looks like a great trip (even with the 4am start)!

Can I just ask - why is this a "skimo" rather than "ski touring" trip? What differentiates the two? Is it different kit?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@miranda, skimo - too lazy to type ski mountaineering - this was a little bit more than just touring, as it was properish mountaineering with ropes, axes, spikey-feet, bloody early Alpine starts etc snowHead
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@geoffers, ah, thanks for that - I think in my head skimo was racing or something like that.

The alpine start photo (if that's the 4am one) is my favourite Very Happy
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@miranda, You're correct in that skimo racing is ski-mountaineering racing, and I guess people relate the the word just with the race element
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Looks amazing, thanks for posting
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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.
@geoffers,

He he, I recognise a face in those photos from my recent trip to the Vanoise.

How did young M get on with the early starts?
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