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TR: Red Head's Crack (aka Couloir E, Pas de la Rousse)
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

The Pas de la Rousse, East Couloir is almost the last line of the east Chartreuse that I've not skied. It is supposed to be the steepest line in the range. The recent snow had bonded much better to the base than the previous chutes so it seemed like a possibility.



It is a tortuous route with a wall of red cliffs on the left bank that reflect heat and can change the snowpack.



The line is best tackled "sight unseen", that is you climb by the reasonable unexposed forest tracks to the couloir entrance.



I was skiing with a member of the local constabulary who was "on patrol", nice work. The entrance is steep, around 55 degrees with a nice "toboggan" if you cock up. No Fall Zone, as the American's say.



You then have a sheltered bowl followed by a left traverse into this bowl where the snow was "settled powder" of dubious quality.



and then another traverse right into slightly crusty powder



turns were not always that elegant. At the exit we had about 2 inches of snow sitting on 45-50 degree angled flagstones, it was amazing that the snow was sticking to these. Ensuite, a large snowfield of light crust which was just about skiable then powder in the woods.

So the "settled powder bonded to the base" wasn't really there. Maybe a couple of day's earlier? Then again it is the devil and the deep blue ski (sic). When the skiing is good the avalanche risk is often unacceptable.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

Erm, you're very welcome to that lot. Shocked Shocked
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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?

Very nice Wink
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.

er... looks character building
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Arno, even if you are saying that, I don't feel so bad about posting what I did.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.

Idris wrote:
Very nice Wink


obviously not up to the big Chamonix lines.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Hmm, what I actually meant was, 'if even you...etc'
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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!

that will put hairs on your chest!
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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.

norris wrote:
that will put a turd in your trousers!
FIFY
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Ski the Net with snowHeads

Toofy Grin Toofy Grin
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Masque, Laughing Laughing
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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.

davidof, Shocked
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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

davidof, Awesome, I often look out for your lines as I'm driving about, mostly thinking "s**t, how does anyone ski down that?" Chapeau...
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.

This line is easy to spot as you drive down from Chambery to Grenoble. As you go past the Pontcharra turnoff you can see the east wall of the Chartreuse off to the right.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Nice... Very Happy
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

I've seen it, but I don't think I'd want to ski it after reading your report! Nice pics though.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

Quote:

er... looks character building



That is my favourite description of a ski that was probably best avoided - though I had the IP protected on that one.

Nice report though
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