Grand Envers untracked and Solo
It's mid may. almost everyone has left town. The last skiing officialy closed a week ago. But the Aiguille du Midi is a sight seeing lift and dosen't close in spring - not this year anyhow. It rained in Chamonix yesterday. That means if you go high enough it will have snowed. And the Midi goes up 9000+ feet from town. Being lazy I showed up around 9 - first bin is at 8am. I had to stand in line. After a week of no one arround I'd forgotten the weekenders.
The last 2 times I've been up the Arete has been hard and sketchy. And I've been glad of my crampons. i should have skied. I postholed to my knees in the fresh. Having to wait in line with the moutaineers who were almot pitching it. Since they took the handrail down it's too narrow to overtake. Skis on and a quick look around there are a few tracks heading towards the Rond and Cosmiques but I'm not going that way alone. There are 2 skiers just starting down the Grand Envers (Col du Plan). I head off in that direction. Taking it in turns to bust the trail to the first pitch.
Oh lovely sweet untracked boot to knee fresh.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall.../GEtopdown.jpg
Strangley they head off skiers right towards the Petit Evers.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...pics/GETOP.JPG
The seccond pitch has a crunchy base layer and only binding to boot fresh. But it's all mine
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...pics/Ge2nd.jpg
From here down the cliffs above me on skiers left start droping sloughs in my direction. I turn less often
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/GElower.jpg
Glancing over to the Petit Envers I see the two lads I intialy joined enjoing their own freshies
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...wardsrogon.jpg
Down towards the Requin hut things are getting a little warm. The snow is getting a little scary. time for less turns. Glad I waxed my boards last night.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...boverequin.jpg
Such a nice place for a coffee stop.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...ics/REQUIN.JPG
With good views to.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...s/PIRIADES.JPG
From here on down is flatlands. Glad I was resonalby early in the day. It was refrozen and raincrust so no poling all the way to Montonvers and the train home. By noon this would be unplesant. By three it would be a long slog. Back home for lunch a lazy way to spend a sunday.
