Wednesday 25 January 2012

Aiguille Pourrie SW Couloirs

With uber keen Vanoise skier Will Eaton over for a couple of days, the pressure is on to provide him with some good skiing. This morning we tried out the Grand Montets mid station and got some good snow but most of it was pretty cruddy and so we relocated to Brevent.

After doing the ENSA in such good nick yesterday we started with a lap of that and I had a really heavy fall on the way over to it, almost ending the day (and the season) before lunchtime! A quick inspection of my leg revealed no obvious damage, and the pain decreased gradually all day so no harm done but it was quite eye opening how quickly you go from minding your own business to nearly breaking your leg!

After skiing the ENSA and the crud below we headed up the Col Cornu chair and skied 2 fantastic lines off the Aiguille Pourrie, which is accessed by skinning up to the Col Cornu and then the short summit ridge. I'd never seen it getting skied before but the snow looked great and so it proved. The 2 lines we skied are below, and both were mainly 45 degrees ish, with 50 degree entrances - 


Our lines seen from the top of the Col Cornu chair, with numerous piste skiers in the foreground. "Here's what you could have won!"

As the afternoon progressed the views began to gradually reveal themselves, and by the time we got to the summit for the 2nd time the Valley was glowing orange and the clouds were swirling all around - perfect. The best part was that the powder was light, thigh deep and steep. Does life get any better? I'll let the pics speak for themselves.


Cornu chair from above


Will, with Brevent behind, getting ready to drop.


And again, this time with Cham calling below.


Into the second couloir with Will visible below on the "Demi lune".


Shredding


Et encore.


Homeward bound with the Aiguilles appearing from out of the clouds.