 Poster: A snowHead
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| JackSkier wrote: |
https://www.facebook.com/watch?ref=search&v=219253591987528&external_log_id=f11433b0-47cc-4ccc-8233-cd0b3ae9aa2b&q=mont%20blanc%20live%20test%20approuve%20pente%20raide
This is a good video of how the guides manage it; although that lady had no business on that face! |
I bet she tells everyone she skied it too. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Joe Vallone on skiing the Pan : https://provallone.com/blog/le-pan-du-rateau-but-naked-g-n-a-r/936/
I've never done it and suspect I never will. The issue with the fall/die traverse, in my limited experience, is that the adrenaline you get up on the traverse dissipates by the time you need to ski. Meaning that you are not in the right place mentally to commit to the descent.
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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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@JackSkier, I think it depends a bit on the guide - we've been going as a group of 5 with the same guy for a number of years so he knows us pretty well and trusts us (up to a point at least  ). We don't get to do the Pan but we do do lots of stuff which is spicy enough for me. We did the Glacier de la Meije last time but hired a second guide for that. The skiing wasn't that hard technically but there was a lot of group management because of the objective dangers etc
@gorilla, yes, think that's what happened with me
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@Arno, I had a rough time on the banana traverse of death in Verbier, following BobinCH and then beatered down the couloir. I then realised that terrain where I might die wasn't for me.
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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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@gorilla, that's pretty much where I'm at. Meadow skipping FTW
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| JackSkier wrote: |
| I skied with a very well known guide there a few years back with a 4-1 ratio, and even with that size we were limited in what we could get up to. |
Not Phillipe Andre by any chance? One of my all-time favourite guides. The last time I skied with him he took us down a route to the road a bit to the right of La Vaute which required two belays. Does anyone know what it is called?
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@snowball, sounds like one of the Orcieres lines. We did one of those last year which didn't require a belay. They look completely improbable when you look back up from the valley
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| snowball wrote: |
| JackSkier wrote: |
| I skied with a very well known guide there a few years back with a 4-1 ratio, and even with that size we were limited in what we could get up to. |
Not Phillipe Andre by any chance? One of my all-time favourite guides. The last time I skied with him he took us down a route to the road a bit to the right of La Vaute which required two belays. Does anyone know what it is called? |
No, it was with Joe V, great guide and great fun to ski with. The conditions were not great, as it had not snowed for three weeks or so, which meant that he had to be quite careful on route choice etc. I have also had mixed experiences of guides at La Grave before, some want merely to earn a days wages, have a nice lunch and ski the Vallons and Chancel. Others, like Joe, go above and beyond to make it a really special experience.
Haven't done the route you mention, but I think carrying on beyond the La Voute rappel takes you into the Orcieres.
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Might be Orciere de Droites, but I can't find any description. We made first tracks (Phillipe said he chose it partly because several colleagues said they were going to do La Voute). After lunch we went up and skied down to St Christoph - a nice relaxed contrast.
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There is a description of the routes here, along with pictures. Sounds like Snowball's route is Orciere Droite, which I have not skied. The skierslodge route guide shows Voute with two abseils. I remember accessing it with a short traverse and only one abseil.
https://www.skierslodge.com/the-skiing-2/legendary-routes/
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@gorilla, the glaciers have retreated a long way since those pics were taken and route descriptions were written. I remember Pele working on that bit of the website when I did my only trip to Skiers Lodge in about 2001! The routes were animated and we were all gasping at his mad internet skillz
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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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Hmm, not sure this was it. The first belay was longer and the second short and easy. After the second we turned right, I think.
I think it it might be this: (sorry a bit small)
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You know it makes sense.
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La Vaute must have a couple of different lines in to the 'entrance' (which I take to be the second rappel in Bob's pic above). Certainly when we did it 5 years or so back we didn't need to do the first rappel or walk up to the second. We just traversed directly into the second. Somewhat firm boiler plate and nothing like the soft snow shown above! Great ski though; needed your wits about you at the top
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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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@Sharkymark, the glacier has retreated so you only need to rappel to get into La Voute itself now
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes, I've only ever done one rapel into La Voute. Anyway, he was avoiding la Voute on this occasion. We did it at the end of the morning and there were no tracks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@JackSkier, sorry to intrude this discussion, I think it was your go.
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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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| Quote: |
I think we went right as there was a queue at the belay point for the left hand variant
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@BobinCH, Are the folks queueing belaying on ice or steep rocks? Crampons or touring boots?
@snowball, is the belay the orange dots?
Snow looks amazing in the couloir.
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@Markymark29, I don't know, I got the photo off the internet. Not even certain it is where we were.
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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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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| Quote: |
I think we went right as there was a queue at the belay point for the left hand variant
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@BobinCH, Are the folks queueing belaying on ice or steep rocks? Crampons or touring boots? |
Not sure. Suspect it’s rock as it was quite far down. I think the pic in the sun may have been above this point? @Horizon took it
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Here’s an easy one. Have to view it in landscape on iPhone to avoid the stretchy picture
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Looks like Valluga to me
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| Quote: |
I think we went right as there was a queue at the belay point for the left hand variant
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@BobinCH, Are the folks queueing belaying on ice or steep rocks? Crampons or touring boots?
@snowball, is the belay the orange dots?
Snow looks amazing in the couloir. |
those orange dots are belays, but they are really old photos (and it was clearly a really big snow year) so the lines have changed a little. The first belay is no longer necessary because you can ski a line a little to the looker's right. Also, the dots for the second belay for the Voute suggest a much longer belay than in reality. They extend all the way down the first bit of the couloir, most of which is skiable
That said, the belay is a good 30 ft. You're walking on rocks for most of it. I don't think there is a real alternative for access - down climbing might be possible but not in any way recommended
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yes, Valuga, I agree. You have to climb down awkwardly into the little gully at the top. Not the usual way down which goes off to the left, out of sight.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Correct @viv, Valluga West face
As per @snowball, this was the route in
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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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Let's try this one. Not so steep as some, but the photo doesn't do the crevasses as much justice as they deserve
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Not Titlis?
Bit of a wild guess but looks like the chair over the glacier higher up
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You know it makes sense.
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Yes, looks like the Steinberg
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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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Saas Fee?
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Arno, +1 Steinberg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@jedster, @Arno, yes it's the Steinberg off Titlis (Engelberg). This was the best photo I had that gave a flavour of the run, without giving it away too much, and also being in focus. Next time I'll try to duck down a bit more to hide the chair
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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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.@jedster, your go.
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Sorry folks- bit slow and a bit limited by what is on my iPad. Will need to do some digging for more choice.
This is a classic ski touring peak (left hand, middle distance) and there are multiple lines.
https://ibb.co/BqQ1d1Q
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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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Since you've mentioned the Ortler region a few times, I'm going to guess Mont Cevedale
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Wilder Pfaff (as the wife calls me)?
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Nope
Wrong country (both of you)
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Gran Paradiso - Madonna
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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One of the Monte Rosa peaks? (In Switzerland not Italy  )
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@Grinning, Italy is still wrong 
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FAQ
