 Poster: A snowHead
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Some unfinished business from a few weeks ago...
Having been shut down by the weather on the East Face of the Dent Parrachée a few weeks back, Will & I were both keen for a rematch. A quick look through binoculars on the way back from the Haute Maurienne last week convinced me there was still enough snow on the face, so with Greg keen for action the 3 of us walked in to the Dent Parrachée refuge.
The East Face from Termignon:
Not quite enough snow for the Plan Sec button lift...
Looking at the peak from the walk in to the refuge, with the normal Breche Loza route visible heading right of the skyline ridge:
A 4 a.m. start saw us skinning towards the Breche de la Loza in the dark:
Dawn breaking over the Ecrins skyline:
Will in the Loza couloir:
Nice scenery:
Greg on the exposed traverse into the Chaise du Pape:
Will on the summit ridge:
We made the summit at 8 a.m., and spent a bit of time peering in to the top of the face & waiting for the snow to soften. The East face is one of the classic steep descents of the vanoise, first skied by local extreme skier Yves Anselmet, and starts with 150m of 50º slopes, picking a tight line through rocky couloirs, before opening onto 'Les Grandes Pentes', 400m of 45º, and finally narrowing to a tight steep funnel to exit the main face. The 2 cruxes are the top rocky section - which we had scoped through binoculars and figured a line that might go, and the bottom funnel which looked extremely deeply runneled by soft snow releases from previous days - but we had a plan...!
Will on the summit, Mont Blanc and Grande Casse behind:
First turns down the shoulder - 50º with big exposure:
First tight section:
Carefull skiing required to not send sluff onto the man below...:
Will & Greg exiting the upper face (they're in there somewhere!:
Enjoying the wide open 45º slopes below:
"Le Couloir des 3 Mousquetaires": Will scoping our alternative line - from Termignon we had spotted a couloir skiers right of the face which by-bassed the runneled exit. Continuous steep skiing on good spring snow on the sides of the couloir, the only question mark was wether it actually was skiable all the way, as we couldn't quite see the bottom through the binoculars, or without actually comitting to the couloir...:
In the couloir, from here we could see a clear way through:
Greg surviving a short runneled section:
Looking down the exit couloir:
The East Face from below, 700m looking very fore-shortened:
View from the Crete des Ferrieres:
With a high snow-line we avoided the classic descent down to Termignon and hung a hard left. A short hike up some scree got us onto the Crete des Ferrieres, from where we could drop in under the North face of the Dent:
A long hot skin 600m vertical back up the Glacier de la Mahure followed:
North face of the Dent Parrachée, some future projects on here, but a bit more snow needed currently!:
By 1230 we were at the Col du Moine, from where some great spring snow took us back to the refuge, for a well-earned cup of tea & rest before a gentle stroll back to the car...:
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 29-07-10 20:18; edited 3 times 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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Wow. Beautiful. And SCARY! 
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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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cool pics!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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looks great but never in a million years 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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Bloody 'ell.
Excellent stuff. I miss steep stuff (though maybe not THAT steep).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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offpisteskiing, great TR! A proper adventure.... Glad you all made it down safely - that top section looks very hairy!
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the pic where you say
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In the couloir, from here we could see a clear way through:
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...that's freaking steep dude. 
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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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Brilliant.
That's where I want to be today 
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Sheesh!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Were Matchstick Productions filming for this years movie???
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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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Yikes, awe inspiring.
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offpisteskiing, Great report, Always looked up at the Dent Parrachee first thing in a morning when opening the window in Val C, and wondered what it would be like to ski. Now I know  Don't think I'll ever give it a go!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Cool vids
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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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offpisteskiing, loving the vids! These will keep me going through the summer 
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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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Whitegold, its by pornophonique - from the album "8-bit lagerfeuer".
Do a search on Jamendo & the album will come up..
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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offpisteskiing, Great TR! Wish I had been there! Next year - less work, better knees, better back = more skiing
Meanwhile rehabbing nicely in Kalymnos. Catch up soon...
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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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nice area.
thanks to show us!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pucker me up baby
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Great stuff. It looks even steeper than 50º straight on as you see it from Val C and Termignon.
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dreamguides, Enjoy Guy, must start making plans for next year...!
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
