Saturday 28 March 2015

Col du Passon

After spending Friday avoiding the crowds, we spent Saturday joining them for a trip over the Col du Passon, high above the Argentiere Glacier. It wasn't actually that busy and everyone seemed to disappear once we got over the Col itself so we had a great time skiing down to Le Tour by ourselves. I'd forgotten how cool it is to be skiing perched up high above the village below and I've also remembered that the Col du Passon should make it onto the "do it every year" list. Great times.


Heading across to the start of the ascent, which begins now with a short bootpack due to the lack of snow.


Finishing the bootpack.


The final couloir up to the Col. With the benefit of hindsight, putting crampons on would have been a good idea.


Sophie on the ski down.


Sharon loving the Le Tour Glacier.


Sharon skiing next to the toe of the glacier, being watched by an admiring crowd.



Stunning glacial ice at the toe of the glacier.


Me in one of the exit couloirs (whenever I do the Col du Passon I seem to find a different exit every time).

The weather looks horrible for the next few days but there's plenty of precipitation to come so this lean winter may have some life in it yet. After a day as good as today, I certainly hope so.