 Poster: A snowHead
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January 30th 2009
Couloir du Glacier du Midi de Bellecote (La Plagne)
I have never had a bad day in the mountains - some snow with Belgian & Italian attitudes (Breakable crust mainly), perhaps ... Au contraire, every day has been absolutely amazing .... but some days are more amazing than others .. & January 30th was one of those ...  
Setting out on a day’s skiing with guide Francois Allemoz can be a daunting prospect, but there are few other guides that I would prefer to ski with. Days with Francois are BIG days ... However, from the moment the day is listed on the calendar, a silent echo resounds from that Scottish member of the famous Walmington-on-Sea platoon of Dad’s Army ...  That knotted stomach fear of the unknown, remains firmly in place for the days and moments preceding the first turns in the snow ... then BLISS .....
Equipment is checked, double checked and checked again. Food is difficult to keep in place, but necessary ... Last Will & Testament in place  we set off ... but I am very fortunate that another snowHead shares the same macabre passion for the mountains ... ‘La version du Francois’ ....
We set off from La Roche and en-route to Bellecote, we encounter the most sublime powder & breath taking powder. Couloir ‘Bernard’ (No relation! .. ) off Roche de Mio, is a joyous baptism on such a beautiful morning We are almost entirely a French grouping saving two international snowHeads ... myself and Sara. It is simply enchanting. Picture here is of a previous visit as my camera is in my rucksack & there’s no hanging around today for photos.
We ascend to the Glacier and drop into a couloir off the Orientation table, North of the top of the Telecabine Bellecote. Some third of the way down I am confronted by destiny as Francois stops atop a secondary couloir, to the left. It is about six ski widths wide  My fixed, knashing smile and tightening of various parts alerts Francois to the fact he might have a refusal as I have a definite & healthy phobia of combined VERY steep & VERY narrow. He is such a calm man and has such a calming influence & he tells me quietly I can do it. I believe him, but in addition quietly offer up a prayer for salvation  It’s steep, straight and frankly SCARY & I need to know that I can put in a turn after the ‘narrows’. In his indomitable way he assures me that there is room for a ‘quick’ left turn to kill off speed, then drop through 40 degrees onto an open combe. What a jolly jape ... I remember Martin Chester’s words at Plas-Y-Brenin regarding couloirs selection .. “Ecoute de votre derriere” With that he’s off and I delay – ostensibly to leave him space .... but it’s decision time and I launch .... Some two nano-seconds later I am out in the open Combe – quite now knowing how, but with vague recollections of the ‘left turn’ working & no obvious evidence or feelings of ‘bodily accidents’ ..
To say that I am elated is the understatement of the century ....  I even begin to sing a little ditty and notice the others checking their ABS handles .... - some appreciation of my obvious and much acclaimed singing talents ....
We navigate back to the Glacier and the ‘Traverse’ Chair, from whence we begin the climb .... Sara manages a smile ... really ....
After a brief powder extravaganza, we commence skinning to the Sommet propre de Bellecote. It is an absolutely beautiful day and we are alone & in contemplation of life’s mysteries ....
Happy snowHead ... ?
On top of Sommet de Bellecote propre .... the top of our world ... !
Thierry (Helmet!), Jean Luc, Karl (Francois son) & Francis
The demon, talking gloves ...
More superlative powder, though short, as we reach the elusive Couloir du Glacier du Midi de Bellecote ....
The photo somewhat belies the fact, but this baby is steep ... The rope is deployed for the drop-in and I am a happy bunny that I was a beneficiary of the Ski-Mountaineering Rope Course at Plas-Y-Brenin last September .... We are apparently the first to ski this couloirs in nearly three years.
Karl goes .... he is a seriously brilliant skier ... 
Contemplating life’s and other mysteries .... NO room for negative events here ...
Sara ready for off ...
POW ! .. POW ! ... is the reward ...
... a brief look back ..
... then out into another bowl ...
Thence to the third climb, which again the photo hides the steepness ...
The Sommet ... ! Francois in anticipation of lunch, or cryptic message about too many photos .. ?
Jocelyn had a very tough climb, but loved it ....
LUNCHEON and the planting of the Irish flag, with snowHeads pennant attached of course ... The Couloir du Glacier du Midi de Bellecote was apparently not skied in either 2007, or 2008 due to poor conditions and we had the honour of being the first to ski it since. Now fresh, black olive bread, avec jambon, brie et salad never tasted so good ... yum .. yum ...
We skied absolutely glorious powder, pretty much all the way to the ski du fond approaches to Champagny en Haut, though my poor legs are indicating that they are expending reserves that aren’t there. However, for the great and glorious honour of snowHeads and country, Sara & I destroy the opposition on the 4km skate-out to Champagny en Haut.
... and then the story ends ... “ ... But tomorrow is another day ... !” ...
... even ‘The Demon Gloves’ (foreground) lay down to rest ...
... and a few hours later later, I just manage to avoid the catastrophe diabolique of falling asleep in a Chicken Stir-fry ( .. just caught the left cheek in a fine Canton Black Bean Sauce, as contact with the table provided an unwelcome though necessary stimulus .....
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 27-03-09 12:11; 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
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DO WANT!!!
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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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BernardC, ha ha...looks great and the rope is christened..?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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