@Weathercam, Do you have the Rab Mythic Down or the Rab Mythic Light Down? Seriously wondering about the Light one, trying to find a pic of how small it packs down.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Anthem for anyone chasing @ weathercam around the Ecrins
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?
@Weathercam, a friend did the combe du riu yesterday (skinning up it first from Ailefroide). I'm told it was in pretty good condition, except for some big balls of snow towards the bottom, but all avoidable.
I also yesterday bought Rab Khroma backpack 30l BNWT in an end-of-season close-out sale, and at this time of year cash always gets you a way better price
So conditions have changed drastically in the past couple of days and now even though its risk 2 one has to be really aware of wet slide as FLs are so high and basically get off the mountain by 12:30
I went searching for cold snow yesterday at 3,100, but I opted for Spring snow whilst my mate dropped off the ridge, and I certainly could have been an hour earlier, and the temperatures on our terrace at 1,400m were 20 degrees with the sensor in the shade.
Prior to yesterday's tour we'd done two classic slack-country days, from one of the highest lifts in Serre off the back skiing two different routes giving us 700m of desecent with hardly any signs of other tracks (apart from some of mine) and then only a 175m climb back, though the piste we climbed too was closed as in places was pretty bare, but at least we didn't have to take the skis off
Took this snap of La Grave yesterday from where we were and it shows all the main routes higher up inc glacier, the Breche, plus the Trifides*.
The image should be quite large so you can zoom in.
*taken from skiers-lodge
Vertical drop: 750 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Risk of slipping on hardpacked snow
Trifide 0,1,2,3 counted from left to right are very easy to access from P3 3200m. The Trifides couloirs are very serious because they are easy to find and some skiers, ski them down by misstake and the unfortuantly the outcome has been that very serious accidents have happened. It is here that skiers should have most respect skiing La grave/La Meije.
As in any couloir, the snow transforms day by day, hour by hour, risk of slipping on hard-packed snow, ski very conservatively in the top section. Give a lot of space to other (possibly less proficient) skiers, and as in all couloirs, do not fall! The Trifide 1, is the best known, it is easy to see it from the cable car.
The other couloirs are on the left and right sides and are more exposed, steep slopes. Trifide 3 has got a good big 10 to 15 meter jump at the exit!. You can bring a long rope. Best would to avoide it. La Grave got much better skiing elsewere. Le Grand Coulior is reachable from the Téléski des Trifides with some hiking/climbing to alt:3450m.
And someone yesterday told me how a group had skied trifide 1 in the morning and went back late afternoon and the snowboarder in the group had to be rescued as the snow had re-frozen and the group didn't have gear to get him down/out.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Weathercam, yes that link or your reply doesn’t answer the 2 questions! Do you have the light or the normal? Any pics of pack size?
We skied Triffide 1 at at about 1515 yesterday, needed an abseil to get over the ice step at the top (think there was a lower side slip entry). The rescue must’ve been after us. Some nice cold snow in the very shady part at the top but the rest hard (but grippy).
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
kitenski wrote:
@Weathercam, yes that link or your reply doesn’t answer the 2 questions! Do you have the light or the normal? Any pics of pack size?
Well in the feature there's a pic of me with the jacket in the pack, and in the video it has me taking it out of my backpack and then out of its pack!
What do you want me to do take a feckin tape measure to it
And again the review is of the Mythic Alpine Down jacket, and not the light, as I would have used that in the title
The jacket in question is the RAB Mythic Alpine jacket, coming in at an uber light 313g, helped by the 900FP hydrophobic goose down
Whereas the Light version is lighter and is a combination of synthetic and down from a quick comparison.
@sgl, impression I got was that it was a few days ago; that said I might well bump into him later so will try to find out.
It's that time of year when ski-touring slack country can end up with some combat skiing
Daughter nigh on V of Death over a stream
So warm, we actually started skiing Spring snow around 10:00 , and North facing slopes are now skiable Spring around 11:00.
Temps meant to be getting even warmer so FL's are forecast circa 3,500 that's when the BIG wet slides start to happen!
Nice sector with the game plan being to skin back up that trail bottom-right of picture, hence the combat skiing etc
After all it is free
After all it is free
A bit more of a tour today, and I should have mentioned that my mate in the pic above is in A-Fib.
Both my OH and daughter have knee issues from skiing the Spring slush, so they bailed halfway and my mate continued with me, but as soon as we were above 2,300, he naturally, at the altitude, which always seems to be where the wheels can start to fall off, started to find the going tough.
So we took it very easy with plenty of stops, and had a long break before the last technical 100m of the climb, then it was Spring snow perfection.
OH had skied back to the van which meant to we could ski another line at the end and it was quite startling, though not surprising to see all the slides that had occured in the past couple of days up there.
Making his way up the "oven" as gets really hot in that gulley and climb.
Then we laid some nice tracks
Prior to the last pitch from off the Galibier road
Circa 750m over 8.5km, but there are a couple of long flattish stretches, which were good for recovery, between the more arduous climbs.
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.
@Weathercam, is he permanently in Afib?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
kitenski wrote:
@Weathercam, is he permanently in Afib?
Response from my mate....
I am permanently in A fib , but don’t get affected as bad as some, probably about 15 percent less energy than otherwise.
We were out in Brazil together and he used my Garmin ECG app and was a hell of a difference between his and mine !
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Weathercam, fair play to him! I also suffer with Afib so would expect your ecgs to be very different!! Out of interest does he take any drugs or has he had any treatment for it (I’ve written up my journey here if he is interested https://greghilton.co.uk/atrial-fibrillation-and-endurance-athletes/)
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.
Love this time of year, and skiing Spring snow in one of my favourite playgrounds.
Left the boulangerie with provisions by 07:30 then think parked up and got going just before 08:00 - had to use couteaux for the first 45mins or so before things started to soften up.
One 800m climb, having driven up the Granon road to circa 1,900m, and then a hike in trainers before starting the actual climb, followed by a lovely Eeast facing descent that had transformed to perfection, and then a cheeky 200m climb for another sublime descent, searching out the best lines/aspects, and just us me and mutley on the mountain.
It really doesn't get much better than that; though there was a very tired Ullr by the end, of course, nothing to do with his extra activity of trying to make friends with the various marmottes that whistled for his attention
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
A trip to Ala Archa National Park for a memorable final tour of the season.
Day 1 hiked up to Ratsek Hut in the snow. Heavy backpack carrying splitboard, sleeping bag, food for 4 days, gas etc.
Day 2 hiked up to Korona Hut. Was mostly breaking a trail on a moraine ridge (photo below). Somewhat technical, not made much easier by snow, heat, and heavy bag.
Pretty basic hut. We had it to ourselves.
Great evening views - photo of alpinglow on free Korea peak. Reminded me a lot of argentiere glacier - but without the people.
Day 3 - Goal was to ski from the snowline on 2nd tower of Korona Peak. But too much hidden crevasse danger for unroped skiing meant turning around a little below at 4568m (photo below shows rough transition point)
A pretty nice decent, some nice pitches and spring snow.
Quick snack in Korona Hut and then hikes back down to Ratsek Hut.
Day 4 6am start to tag Uchitel Peak (4530m) before the hike out.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
