A Ski Tour to Petit Mont Blanc

Having recently discovered ski touring, I got the opportunity to meet up with Chris and Paul, Freeride Republic regulars, after having met them earlier in the season on one of Freeride Republic’s excellent avalanche skill sharing sessions, for a day ski tour to Petit Mont Blanc.

The plan was to meet at the bottom of the Chandrossa lift at 10am. Coming from Meribel I was on Saulire as soon as it opened, so I’d have plenty of time the make the meeting, and get a couple of warmup runs in. The best laid plans…. near the top the lift stopped suddenly, highly unusual for Saulire, one of the most reliable lifts in the resort. After 10 minutes of no movement I checked the three valleys’ app: “Saulire closed, electrical fault”. Oh no! How long’s this going to take? Well at least I had my sandwiches, chocolate and plenty of water and the other people in the cabin were friendly. Fortunately after another 10 minutes it started again, then stopped, then started again, and in that manner we eventually made it to the top, usually a 10 minute trip turned into 45 minutes. Fortunately, I still had plenty of time to make the meeting spot.

Unfortunately for Chris and Paul, who are based in La Tania, their route was via Dou Des Lanches then Dent De Burgin then the mid station of Saulire Express, whoops, too late; ok carry on traversing and get to the mid stations of Pas Du Lac, success.

Unfortunately Rob, who was also due to join us, based in Meribel, was a little later starting out and was met with huge queues at Chaudanne and abandoned the mission.

Enough about lifts! It was a lovely bright blue sky day with no wind, lets go ski touring.

Our destination as viewed from the shoulder of Roc Merlet

From the top of Chandrossa we traversed out to the right under Roc Merlet arriving at the first short uphill section. Now to test my transition skills, was I going to remember to take everything out of my rucksack I needed, put what I didn’t need in, and not let my skis go shooting off down the slope with the breaks off? Remarkably, all my lessons and practice came together, and I was ready to go without my usual faffing.

After a short skin up the the shoulder of Roc Merlet, another transition to downhill skiing, it went smoothly again, I’m getting the hang of this! It really does help when the sun is out and you’re not being battered by strong winds.

The ski down was a mixed bag depending on the aspect of the slope, sometimes firm and piste like, sometime a crusty challenge. On a couple of occasions the crust caught me out when I found myself hurtling down the slope unable to turn, I had to implement my fall over to stop technique which worked nicely.

Chris and Paul at the Chalet de la Grand Val at the start of the ascent to Petit Mont Blanc

We passed the various refuges and arrived at the Chalet de la Grand Val at the start of the ascent to Petit Mont Blanc. This time my transition record took a hit as I set off with my sunglasses in my bag, doh, lost my 100% record chance.

We have some company for the start of the ascent.

This ascent was about 500 meters to the summit of 2680. I’ve been staying in Brides-les-Bains which is at 600 meters so this was 2000 meters above my comfort zone! Fortunately Chris and Paul were consolidating the skinning tracks ahead making it easier for me to make my way.

The snow was firm most of the way up but started getting softer at the top, and would occasionally give way under the downhill ski adding to the effort. Nearer the top I was having to stop about every 20m to get my breath but eventually joined Paul and Chris at the top at 13:30 just in time for lunch! And lunch always tastes so much better when you’ve earned it, and on a windless peak in the sunshine (having spent many years walking in the Lake District it never ceases to amaze me that you can be on top of a mountain in the Alps and it not windy, I thought that was the rule, except once in a blue moon.)

Chris leads the way

Mike enjoying the skin up

With clear views all around, Pralognan and La Vanoise to the east, Aiguille du Fruit and our route up to the west, and a larger Mont Blanc to the north this was a much nicer environment to enjoy my sandwiches than stuck in the Saulire Express 2 lift.

Paul and Chris on the summit

After a relaxing lunch, with a little trepidation, we headed back down the way we came, hoping the sun had softened the crust up to make it less challenging. It was still quite crusty near the top so we took it cautiously, and then depending on the aspect the skiing got easier, but still having to be on guard, every now and then, for pockets of danger crust.