Fri, 5 February 2021
Minimum altitude: 1,206 meters
Distance: 6.4 km
Slope Aspect: East
Vertical Climbed: 406 meters (1,332 feet)
Vertical Descended: 406 meters
Rating: 2.1
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,200
The main reason to climb to the Cochette is the view. That said on a day of fresh snow the forest either side of the summit trail is skiable and the avalanche risk is not huge. The resort isn't keen on you climbing the ski runs on skis but due to Covid the lifts are closed this year. The only difficulty is a small wall near the top of the pistes. 50 meters at 35 degrees and this could present an avalanche risk in the wrong conditions.
When we arrived at the Desert d'Entremonts it was warm and raining lightly. The aim had been to x-country but we decided to tour in the hope of better conditions later. Arriving at the summit we were greeted by a strong, southerly wind. A lot of snowshoers arrived after us but we were glad to have our skis for the descent which, even if the skiable area wasn't huge, was much more fun and far faster. We'd finished our 10km cross country ski before the snow shoers arrived at the bottom. We must come back when the forest is skiable.
Waterlogged snow except on the main trail that was hardpacked by the passage of snowshoers. Warm with some light rain and a strong southerly wind at the summit.
